VOA标准英语2008年-Khmer Temple Takes Central Role in Thai Politic

A 900-year-old Khmer temple on the Thai and Cambodian border has taken center stage in efforts to oust¹ Thailand's prime minister. Samak Sundaravej's government is under intense pressure over an agreement with the Cambodian government about the temple, as well as its handling of the economy. As Ron Corben reports from Bangkok, the parliament is in the third day of debate on a no-confidence motion.
　
Thai tourists visit the Preah Vihear temple near Thai border in Preah Vihear province, north of Phnom Penh (File)

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's government agreed earlier this year to back Cambodia's plan to list the Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

For centuries, the two countries have disagreed over ownership of the temple, which sits near their border. In 1962, the International Court of Justice granted sovereignty to Cambodia, but adjacent land is under Thai control.

During parliamentary debate this week on a no-confidence motion, the opposition² has accused the government of signing the agreement in haste and surrendering Thai sovereignty. The government rejects that allegation.

Panitan Wattanayagorn, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University, says the public questions Cambodia's right to solely³ file for World Heritage status.

"The issue of the Preah Vihear temple is one clear significant question that the government needs to clear up the misunderstandings around that quick decision to support the Cambodia to register that temple with UNESCO," said Panitan. "That is one issue that needs to be cleared quickly because it arouses the nationalist sentiment among many Thai voters."

Panitan says Thais had expected both countries to jointly⁴ seek the UNESCO designation.

The Khmer Kingdom during its height reached the far western provinces of Thailand. In past centuries, Cambodia and Thailand fought repeatedly over territory.

Some members of the opposition allege⁵ that the temple agreement is linked to plans by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to invest in Cambodia, which the government denies. Mr. Thaksin was ousted⁶ in a coup⁷ in 2006, after months of opposition protests against his government.

The temple is just one of several issues the opposition has raised this week in three days of debate on the no-confidence motion. Opposition leaders have called Mr. Samak incompetent⁸ and criticized his handling of the economy.

Thousands of people have been protesting outside Mr. Samak's offices all week, demanding he step down. His coalition⁹ government is seen as being too closely tied to Mr. Thaksin, whom the opposition says was corrupt¹⁰ and abused power.

A vote on the no-confidence motion is expected on Friday. While political analysts¹¹ here say Mr. Samak probably will survive, news reports Thursday say the foreign minister and the commerce minister may be replaced after the vote.

1 oust   

vt.剥夺，取代，驱逐

参考例句：

• The committee wanted to oust him from the union.委员会想把他从工会中驱逐出去。
• The leaders have been ousted from power by nationalists.这些领导人被民族主义者赶下了台。

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 solely   

adv.仅仅，唯一地

参考例句：

• Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。
• The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。

4 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

5 allege   

vt.宣称，申述，主张，断言

参考例句：

• The newspaper reporters allege that the man was murdered but they have given no proof.新闻记者们宣称这个男人是被谋杀的，但他们没提出证据。
• Students occasionally allege illness as the reason for absence.学生时不时会称病缺课。

6 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。

7 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。

8 incompetent   

adj.无能力的，不能胜任的

参考例句：

• He is utterly incompetent at his job.他完全不能胜任他的工作。
• He is incompetent at working with his hands.他动手能力不行。

9 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。

10 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

11 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。