VOA常速英语2007年-Nepalese Parliament Votes to Abolish Monarchy

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
29 December 2007

The Nepalese Parliament has voted to abolish the tiny Himalayan nation's centuries-old monarchy¹, turning the country into a republic. From New Delhi, Anjana Pasricha reports that the decision is expected to pave the way for holding elections and restoring democracy next year.

The decision to abolish the monarchy and declare Nepal a "federal, democratic, republican state" was made by an overwhelming majority in the interim² parliament.

270 members in the 329-member house voted late on Friday in favor of ending the monarchy. Only three votes were cast against the motion. The rest abstained³.

The vote in the Himalayan country came as no surprise. Days ago, the government had reached an agreement with former Maoist rebels to abolish the monarchy.

That agreement came three months after Maoist rebels had walked out of the government, demanding immediate⁴ abolition⁵ of the centuries old institution. The Maoists have waged a decade long civil war against the monarchy.

Friday's vote confirms the earlier agreement and represents a compromise between the rebels and political parties. It will be implemented⁶ after elections are held - probably in mid-April.

Professor Lok Raj Baral at Nepal's Center for Contemporary Studies says a decision on the elections could come soon.

"All the parties have now agreed and they are happy. In a couple of days or so the government is going to announce the date of the elections," Baral said.

The king has traditionally been considered a reincarnation of a Hindu God, Vishnu. King Gyanendra heads a dynasty that dates back to the 18th century. He became King when much of his family was killed in a palace massacre⁷ in 2001.

But King Gyanendra fell from favor when he dismissed the government and grabbed absolute power in 2005. He only handed back power to political parties following weeks of bloody⁸ protests in April 2006.

The king's power-grab helped pave the way for Maoist rebels and political parties to join forces to end his rule, and enter a peace deal.

The elections are expected to end restore democracy and end a tumultuous period in the country's history.

1 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

2 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

3 abstained   

v.戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的过去式和过去分词 )；弃权（不投票）

参考例句：

• Ten people voted in favour, five against and two abstained. 十人投票赞成，五人反对，两人弃权。
• They collectively abstained (from voting) in the elections for local councilors. 他们在地方议会议员选举中集体弃权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

5 abolition   

n.废除，取消

参考例句：

• They declared for the abolition of slavery.他们声明赞成废除奴隶制度。
• The abolition of the monarchy was part of their price.废除君主制是他们的其中一部分条件。

6 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

7 massacre   

n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀

参考例句：

• There was a terrible massacre of villagers here during the war.在战争中，这里的村民惨遭屠杀。
• If we forget the massacre,the massacre will happen again!忘记了大屠杀，大屠杀就有可能再次发生！

8 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。