VOA标准英语2008年-Political Tensions Flare in Thailand, Military

By Luis Ramirez
Bangkok
29 May 2008

Thailand's top military commander says he cannot guarantee there will not be another coup¹ after political tensions flared² up in the country again this week. VOA's Luis Ramirez reports from Bangkok.

Elections last December returned Thailand to democracy after a 2006 military coup toppled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. But the poll failed to resolve tensions between those who supported the coup and those who opposed it. Those tensions erupted into violence as both sides protested last Sunday.

The country's supreme³ military commander, General Boonsang Niempradit told reporters he cannot guarantee there will be no more coups⁴.

Political Science Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak, of Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, says the escalation⁵ of protests has led to speculation⁶ of a new coup.

"The conditions are now precarious⁷ and they may soon be untenable because if there is more violence in the streets, the police would be under pressure to restore peace and order. If they cannot do it, then the military, the army, will have to step in," he said. "So, the likelihood of a military coup has grown very quickly in the last few days."

Thaksin - who faces corruption⁸ charges - is banned from politics. His allies regained⁹ control of the government in the December elections and are now trying to change the constitution to protect Thaksin supporters from prosecution¹⁰. Thaksin opponents have been demonstrating against the changes.

A number of people were injured last Sunday when both sides clashed during street demonstrations¹¹ in Bangkok. Thaksin opponents are planning new protests for Friday.

Political analyst¹² Giles Ungphakorn at Chulalongkorn University notes that recent conditions resemble those leading up to the coup nearly two years ago, but cautions against speculation.

"The coup in 2006 was possible because there were widespread demonstrations, at a peak 200,000 people on the streets. The government was paralyzed, and there were calls from calls from many sections of civil society for a coup d'etat," he said. "We are not seeing that right now."

The tensions have nonetheless raised concerns among investors¹³ in Thailand, which was until recently one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia. The Thai stock market plunged¹⁴ Wednesday and continued to drop Thursday.

1 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。

2 Flared   

adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The match flared and went out. 火柴闪亮了一下就熄了。
• The fire flared up when we thought it was out. 我们以为火已经熄灭，但它突然又燃烧起来。

3 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

4 coups   

n.意外而成功的行动( coup的名词复数 )；政变；努力办到难办的事

参考例句：

• China has seen many political coups within the ruling class. 中国统治阶级内部发生过很多政变。 来自互联网
• Thailand has had eighteen coups or coup attendance since nineteen thirty-two. 泰国1932年以来有18次政变或参加政变。 来自互联网

5 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

6 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

7 precarious   

adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的

参考例句：

• Our financial situation had become precarious.我们的财务状况已变得不稳定了。
• He earned a precarious living as an artist.作为一个艺术家，他过得是朝不保夕的生活。

8 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。

9 regained   

复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地

参考例句：

• The majority of the people in the world have regained their liberty. 世界上大多数人已重获自由。
• She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise. 她犹豫片刻，但很快恢复了镇静。

10 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

11 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

12 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

13 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

14 plunged   

v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
• She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。