2007年VOA标准英语-Strike by Ethnic Groups Shuts Down Southern Nep

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
06 March 2007

In Nepal, an ethnic¹ group demanding greater political representation has shut down the south of the country with a campaign of strikes and protests. Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi on the new trouble spot that has emerged in Nepal, which is recovering from a decade-long Maoist insurgency².

 
Activists of Federation³ of Indigenous⁴ and Nationality Associations in Nepal shout slogans during a nationwide general strike in Katmandu, 28 Feb 2007
A general strike spearheaded by the Madhesi People's Rights Forum⁵ shut down schools, shops and businesses across Nepal's southern plains.

The ethnic Madhesi community lives on a strip of flat, fertile land in the south. Since last week, a transport blockade has choked vital supplies such as fuel and food to northern towns.

The Madhesi People's Rights Forum is resuming a campaign that erupted in mid-January for greater political representation. The protests were briefly⁶ suspended last month after Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala promised to increase electoral seats for the Madhesis and give them more autonomy.

The head of the Madhesi Forum, Upendra Yadav, is accusing the government of failing to create a favorable atmosphere.

 
Demonstrators belonging to Nepal's Madhesi Janadhikar Forum burn tires during protests at Jaleswor, Mahottari, 26 Jan 2007
Yadav says the government has not taken steps to hold talks on how to end discrimination against the Madhesis.

The Forum is also demanding the resignation of Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula, who it blames for using excessive force to quell⁷ earlier protests that killed nearly 30 people.

The editor of Katmandu Post newspaper, Prateek Pradhan, says there is little rationale for the new protests, as the government is trying to address complaints of the Madhesis.

"Grievances⁸ of Madhesis have been quite justified⁹, but since the prime minister has already agreed to most of their demands, now calling for a strike I believe is not justified. I strongly believe the public is not with them this time," said Pradhan.

The Madhesi ethnic group accounts for more than one-third of the country's population, but has long complained of being sidelined in favor of people from the hill regions. They say they do not hold enough seats in parliament or adequate jobs in the administration.

Nepal is preparing to hold elections in June to choose a body that will write a new constitution.

Political analysts¹⁰ say groups such as the Madhesi People's Rights Forum are stepping up protests to ensure that their voice is heard as the country heads toward radical¹¹ changes in its system of government.

But the new protests suggest that striking a peace deal with Maoist rebels is not enough to end Nepal's political headaches.

1 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

2 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

3 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

4 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

5 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

6 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

7 quell   

v.压制，平息，减轻

参考例句：

• Soldiers were sent in to quell the riots.士兵们被派去平息骚乱。
• The armed force had to be called out to quell violence.不得不出动军队来镇压暴力行动。

8 grievances   

n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚

参考例句：

• The trade union leader spoke about the grievances of the workers. 工会领袖述说工人们的苦情。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He gave air to his grievances. 他申诉了他的冤情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

10 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

11 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。