VOA常速英语2007年-British PM Stops Deportation of Burmese Asylum

By Tendai Maphosa
London
22 November 2007

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has personally intervened in the case of an opponent of the Burmese military government who faced deportation¹ from Britain. Tendai Maphosa looks at whether other Burmese asylum² seekers are going to benefit from the case.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has ordered a review of Lay Naing's case after Damian Green, the opposition³ Conservative Party spokesman for immigration, confronted him in paliament.

Naing fled Burma last year. He claims he was jailed and beaten by Burmese authorities for distributing literature critical of Burma's military government. His application for asylum and three appeals were rejected on the basis that he did not apply when he arrived in the United Kingdom.

In a letter to Green, Mr. Brown said his government was horrified⁴ by reports of ongoing⁵ persecution⁶ of those who participated in pro-democracy demonstrations⁷ earlier this year in Burma. He also wrote that Naing would be given humanitarian⁸ protection.

Refugee Council Chief Executive Donna Covey expressed the hope that Naing's case represents an acknowledgment from the government that Burma is not safe. She was quoted in the daily newspaper the Independent as saying she hoped those who have sought sanctuary⁹ in the United Kingdom would be protected.

The British government has come under fire from rights organizations for criticizing repressive governments such as the Burmese military regime, but sending back asylum seekers.

Ko Aung is a spokesperson for the Burmese Democratic Movement Association U.K., which opposes the Burmese government. He called for the British government to synchronize¹⁰ its policy regarding Burma.

"The U.K. government should change their policy on Burma because the problem is Home Office say different and then also Foreign Office also say different," he said. "So I do not know what is going on, but Burmese people, if they send you back to Burma definitely out there they are facing torture, imprisonment¹¹ and [they] maybe killed."

A statement by the Border and Immigration Agency said the government would continue to treat applications from Burmese nationals on a case-by-case basis. It said if an applicant¹² demonstrates a need for international protection, asylum shall be granted, should an application be refused, the applicant has the right of appeal.

1 deportation   

n.驱逐，放逐

参考例句：

• The government issued a deportation order against the four men.政府发出了对那4名男子的驱逐令。
• Years ago convicted criminals in England could face deportation to Australia.很多年以前，英国已定罪的犯人可能被驱逐到澳大利亚。

2 asylum   

n.避难所，庇护所，避难

参考例句：

• The people ask for political asylum.人们请求政治避难。
• Having sought asylum in the West for many years,they were eventually granted it.他们最终获得了在西方寻求多年的避难权。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 horrified   

a.(表现出)恐惧的

参考例句：

• The whole country was horrified by the killings. 全国都对这些凶杀案感到大为震惊。
• We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons. 地方监狱的普遍状况让我们震惊。

5 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

6 persecution   

n. 迫害,烦扰

参考例句：

• He had fled from France at the time of the persecution. 他在大迫害时期逃离了法国。
• Their persecution only serves to arouse the opposition of the people. 他们的迫害只激起人民对他们的反抗。

7 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

8 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

9 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

10 synchronize   

v.使同步 [=synchronise]

参考例句：

• The sound on a film must synchronize with the action. 影片中的声音必须与动作配合一致。
• You must synchronize your Inbox before selecting additional folders. 在选择其他文件夹前，您必须同步您的收件箱。

11 imprisonment   

n.关押，监禁，坐牢

参考例句：

• His sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment.他的判决由死刑减为无期徒刑。
• He was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for committing bigamy.他因为犯重婚罪被判入狱一年。

12 applicant   

n.申请人，求职者，请求者

参考例句：

• He was the hundredth applicant for the job. 他是第100个申请这项工作的人。
• In my estimation, the applicant is well qualified for this job. 据我看, 这位应征者完全具备这项工作的条件。