VOA常速英语2008年-East Timor's Wounded President Returns to Hero'

By Phil Mercer
Sydney
17 April 2008

East Timor's president, Jose Ramos-Horta, has arrived home after more than two months of treatment in Australia for injuries he sustained in an assassination¹ attempt. Doctors say his recovery has been exceptional. From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports.

Thousands of people greeted President Ramos-Horta as he arrived in the East Timorese capital, Dili, Thursday.

As the crowd shouted "Viva President Ramos-Horta", the 58-year-old leader thanked the people of his troubled country for their support. He also thanked the national parliament, government officials and the international community.

Mr. Ramos-Horta was shot in a rebel attack at his home in Dili in February.

He was flown for emergency treatment in the northern Australian city of Darwin. After several operations and more than two months of recuperation, surgeons say he has made a remarkable² recovery.

The president's private doctor, Rui de Araujo, says his health will be monitored closely.

"The wounds are completely closed, he still complains about some neuropathic pain but that is normal for that kind of damage that he had in his nerves and so on. So medically speaking he's up to 90 percent healed," he said. "We would only need to do some follow ups on physiotherapy, on scar management, and maybe some continuous pain management for some weeks."

President Ramos-Horta almost died when he was shot by gunmen loyal to rebel leader Alfredo Reinado, who died in the ambush³.

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao was also targeted by renegades on the same, but escaped unharmed.

Nine suspected rebels have been arrested, and up to 16 others are still on the run.

After his return, Mr. Ramos-Horta urged the remaining rebels to turn themselves in to face trial. He said he did not want to see any of them die. He also called on the government to do more to ease chronic⁴ poverty, using revenue from the country's oil and gas sales.

Tiny East Timor gained independence from Indonesia in 2002 but has been beset⁵ instability ever since.

Rebel soldiers clashed with units loyal to the East Timor government in 2006. The violence drove 150 thousand people from their homes and prompted an emergency military intervention⁶ by Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and Malaysia.

More than 2,500 foreign troops and police remain in the country to help local security forces maintain control.

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 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

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 chronic   

adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的

参考例句：

• Famine differs from chronic malnutrition.饥荒不同于慢性营养不良。
• Chronic poisoning may lead to death from inanition.慢性中毒也可能由虚弱导致死亡。

5 beset   

v.镶嵌；困扰，包围

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• The plan was beset with difficulties from the beginning.这项计划自开始就困难重重。

6 intervention   

n.介入，干涉，干预

参考例句：

• The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
• Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。