VOA标准英语2008年-Thailand's Thaksin Supporters Accuse Opponents

By Luis Ramirez
Bangkok
07 January 2008

Supporters of ousted¹ Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra accuse the opposition² of using dirty tricks to bar them from forming a new government, following their victory in last month's general elections. The elections were supposed to return the kingdom to democratic rule following a military coup³ the year before. VOA's Luis Ramirez reports from Bangkok.

Thailand's elections in December were essentially⁴ a contest between those who want to bring back the ousted and exiled former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra and those - including the military, who want to keep Mr. Thaksin out of Thai politics out for good.

Mr. Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party was disbanded after the September 2006 coup that drove him from office, but his supporters re-grouped under the new People Power Party. The PPP last month came slightly short of winning a majority of seats in parliament, meaning it has to form a coalition⁵ if it hopes to govern.

Last week, the party said it had reached an agreement with two smaller parties to form a coalition. But that effort appeared to be thwarted⁶ when the authorities put 65 of the PPP's candidates under investigation⁷ for alleged⁸ election fraud.

The Election Commission rejects allegations that it is discriminating⁹ against supporters of Mr. Thaksin, who is currently abroad.

PPP officials say the investigation amounts to a dirty trick by Thaksin opponents. PPP spokesman Kuthep Saikrachang says the party is launching a media campaign to stop the anti-Thaksin camp's efforts to erode¹⁰ his party's victory.

"We have to come out on the air and inform the public that there is a hand like that trying to get involved in Thai politics now. We would like to make it clear that we cannot accept that kind of dirty tactics any more," said Kuthep.

Three PPP candidates have already been disqualified. Mr. Kuthep says party leaders are confident that the others will be able to prove they did nothing wrong and will be allowed to take their seats in parliament. He urged the opposition not to interfere¹¹.

"The game is over now. We had elections and people have given us the mandate¹². So, the scenario¹³ of dirty tactics should be ended," he added.

The PPP is coming up against a January 23 deadline to form a government. Analysts¹⁴ say there are concerns that the impasse¹⁵ could lead to clashes between Thaksin supporters and those who are determined¹⁶ to keep him out of Thai politics forever.

1 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。

2 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。

3 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。

4 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

5 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

6 thwarted   

阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过

参考例句：

• The guards thwarted his attempt to escape from prison. 警卫阻扰了他越狱的企图。
• Our plans for a picnic were thwarted by the rain. 我们的野餐计划因雨受挫。

7 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

8 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

9 discriminating   

a.有辨别能力的

参考例句：

• Due caution should be exercised in discriminating between the two. 在区别这两者时应该相当谨慎。
• Many businesses are accused of discriminating against women. 许多企业被控有歧视妇女的做法。

10 erode   

v.侵蚀，腐蚀，使...减少、减弱或消失

参考例句：

• Once exposed,soil is quickly eroded by wind and rain.一旦暴露在外，土壤很快就会被风雨侵蚀。
• Competition in the financial marketplace has eroded profits.金融市场的竞争降低了利润。

11 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

12 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

13 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

14 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。

15 impasse   

n.僵局；死路

参考例句：

• The government had reached an impasse.政府陷入绝境。
• Negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse.谈判似乎已经陷入僵局。

16 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。