2007年VOA标准英语-Bhutto Says Pakistan at a Crucial Point

By Gary Thomas
Washington
25 September 2007

Exiled former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto says she plans to return home, even without reaching a political deal with the country's military ruler. VOA Correspondent Gary Thomas reports the former leader blames what she calls extremist elements for the failure to reach agreement with President Pervez Musharraf.

Speaking in Washington Tuesday, Benazir Bhutto said Pakistan is at a critical juncture¹.

"When the history of my nation is written, I think we will look back to the fall of 2007 as a genuine turning point in Pakistan," she said. "It is a critical fork between democracy and dictatorship, and between moderation and extremism."

Ms. Bhutto says negotiations² between her Pakistan People's Party, the PPP, and General Musharraf have stalled. She blamed the roadblocks on hard-liners with General Musharraf's party who, she says, do not want a return to civilian³ democratic rule in her country.

"General Musharraf has embarked⁴ on negotiations with the PPP on a transition to democracy," she said. "But the dialogue that we have held over so many months has stalled because extremist sympathizers in his party refuse to accept a democratic process. General Musharraf has not been able to deliver on commitments because of these extremist sympathizers in his party over whom he has little control."

The former prime minister also criticized the United States for supporting General Musharraf, just as it had supported three earlier military leaders of Pakistan.

"Three times the United States acted out of perceived self-interest to constrain⁵ communism," she said. "And today Islamabad enjoys the support of Washington because General Musharraf's military regime is viewed as vital asset in combating extremism and contributing to regional and global security."

General Musharraf, who took power in a bloodless military coup⁶ in 1999, is seeking another term in office in an October 6 election. The president of Pakistan is elected by an electoral college comprised of the national parliament and provincial⁷ assemblies.

Elections for new parliament and assemblies are to be held sometime after that, most likely in early 2008.

Ms. Bhutto's key demand is that General Musharraf be barred from holding the dual⁸ posts of army chief and president. She says he must resign his army post before contesting the election and that he lift the ban on a twice-elected prime minister from running for another term.

Ms. Bhutto was twice elected prime minister of Pakistan, but was never allowed to complete either term. Facing charges of corruption⁹, she has lived abroad in London and Dubai, but plans to return home October 18. She says she does not know how the government will react and she prays for the best, but is prepared for the worst.

Earlier this month, the prime minister ousted¹⁰ by General Musharraf, Nawaz Sharif, tried to return home, but was promptly¹¹ deported¹² back to Saudi Arabia.

The former chief of South Asia analysis for State Department Intelligence, Walter Andersen, tells VOA General Musharraf must walk a delicate line, and that Ms. Bhutto is also in a difficult position.

"She is in a difficult position, too, because this whole set of circumstances has tended to give political leadership to Nawaz Sharif," he said. "She has to figure out some way to sort of get back the mantle¹³ of democratic leadership.

Ms. Bhutto says her party will meet October 3 in London to decide whether to boycott¹⁴ the presidential vote if General Musharraf does not meet their demands.

1 juncture   

n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头

参考例句：

• The project is situated at the juncture of the new and old urban districts.该项目位于新老城区交界处。
• It is very difficult at this juncture to predict the company's future.此时很难预料公司的前景。

2 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

3 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

4 embarked   

乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事

参考例句：

• We stood on the pier and watched as they embarked. 我们站在突码头上目送他们登船。
• She embarked on a discourse about the town's origins. 她开始讲本市的起源。

5 constrain   

vt.限制，约束；克制，抑制

参考例句：

• She tried to constrain herself from a cough in class.上课时她竭力忍住不咳嗽。
• The study will examine the factors which constrain local economic growth.这项研究将考查抑制当地经济发展的因素。

6 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

7 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

8 dual   

adj.双的；二重的，二元的

参考例句：

• The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
• He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。

9 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

10 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

11 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

12 deported   

v.将…驱逐出境( deport的过去式和过去分词 )；举止

参考例句：

• They stripped me of my citizenship and deported me. 他们剥夺我的公民资格，将我驱逐出境。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The convicts were deported to a deserted island. 罪犯们被流放到一个荒岛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 mantle   

n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红

参考例句：

• The earth had donned her mantle of brightest green.大地披上了苍翠欲滴的绿色斗篷。
• The mountain was covered with a mantle of snow.山上覆盖着一层雪。

14 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。