VOA常速英语2008年-East Timor President Makes First Remarks Since

By Phil Mercer
Sydney
12 March 2008

East Timor's President Jose Ramos-Horta, who was seriously wounded in an assassination¹ attempt in February, has spoken publicly for the first time about the attack. Mr. Ramos-Horta said he would not issue a political statement but wanted to thank world and church leaders their support after the assassination bid by rebels. From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports.

The president's statement was filmed at a hospital in northern Australia where he has had five operations since being critically wounded in an attack by rebels in East Timor.

Jose Ramos-Horta was seated in a chair with an East Timor flag draped behind him.

Despite almost losing his life in the assassination attempt, he looked well and spoke² clearly.

East Timor's leader was shot during an ambush³ in the fledgling nation's capital Dili on February 11. Rebels also targeted Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, who escaped unharmed.

The attack was orchestrated by fugitive⁴ rebel commander Alfredo Reinado, who was killed by presidential guards.

Mr. Ramos-Horta did not issue any political statements, but used his first public appearance since the attack to express his gratitude⁵ to those who helped save his life.

"Today for the first time I am able to speak publicly although I am refraining from making a political speech," he said. "This being Easter week I wish to use this opportunity to thank all who prayed for me, who looked after me, who cared for me following the assassination attempt on me by Mr. Alfredo Reinado."

The president was shot several times in the attack.

He received emergency surgery in East Timor and was flown to Darwin in Australia for further medical treatment.

Doctors are confident he will make a full recovery.

Arrest warrants have been issued against 17 people suspected of involvement in the attacks on East Timor's leaders.

The attacks prompted Australia to send an additional 200 troops and police officers to Dili because of fears of more unrest.

Troops from Australia, Portugal, Malaysia and New Zealand were deployed⁶ to East Timor nearly two years ago after fighting between rebel elements of the country's security forces and units loyal to the government.

The impoverished⁷ former Portuguese⁸ colony voted to secede⁹ from Indonesia in 1999 and became independent three years later.

1 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 ambush   

n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击

参考例句：

• Our soldiers lay in ambush in the jungle for the enemy.我方战士埋伏在丛林中等待敌人。
• Four men led by a sergeant lay in ambush at the crossroads.由一名中士率领的四名士兵埋伏在十字路口。

4 fugitive   

adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者

参考例句：

• The police were able to deduce where the fugitive was hiding.警方成功地推断出那逃亡者躲藏的地方。
• The fugitive is believed to be headed for the border.逃犯被认为在向国境线逃窜。

5 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

6 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

7 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 Portuguese   

n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语

参考例句：

• They styled their house in the Portuguese manner.他们仿照葡萄牙的风格设计自己的房子。
• Her family is Portuguese in origin.她的家族是葡萄牙血统。

9 secede   

v.退出，脱离

参考例句：

• They plotted to make the whole Mississippi Valley secede from the United States.他们阴谋策划使整个密西西比流域脱离美国。
• We won't allow Tibet to secede from China and become an independent nation.我们决不允许西藏脱离中国独立。