VOA标准英语2009-Retiring Sri Lankan Gen. Contends Gov. Polit

By Steve Herman
New Delhi
13 November 2009

 
General Sarath Fonseka (file photo)
Sri Lanka's president Friday gave the country's top military figure permission to leave his post immediately, a day after the army general submitted retirement¹ papers to his commander-in-chief.

In his 2,200-word retirement request submitted Thursday General Sarath Fonseka says he was misled about his promotion² this year to chief of defense³ staff, finding that he had "basically no authority."

There is intense speculation⁴ that Fonseka, who is saying he will continue to serve his country, will soon challenge President Mahinda Rajapaksa in an election. 

The general, credited with leading his troops to victory over the Tamil Tiger rebels, in his letter to Mr. Rajapaksa, accuses senior government politicians of spreading rumors⁵ about him being a "traitor⁶." He is referring to reports that the Army was planning a coup⁷ following the end of the 25-year-long civil war.

General Fonseka, in the letter, says Sri Lanka asked India on October 15 to place troops on alert in case they would be needed to intervene to foil a coup on the island.

A veteran Indian army intelligence officer, retired⁸ Colonel Ramani Hariharan, in Chennai tells VOA News there has been anxiety in India about what he calls Sri Lanka's "unwieldy" military.

"That had been a matter of concern for not only Sri Lanka's government but all the areas around - 300,000 armed men in such a small island after the war," he said. "It would be a potential threat to sort of a democratic government. So the government of India is capable of responding.

Indian peacekeeping forces were invited to the Tamil north of the Sinhalese-dominated island nation by Colombo in 1987. India's soldiers withdrew in humiliation⁹ three years later after failing to neutralize¹⁰ the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Retired Indian army Major General Dipankar Banerjee, dismisses worries of a potential coup and Indian re-intervention, but says Fonseka may desire to use the latter possibility for political currency.

"Indian-Sri Lankan relations are very good," he said. "And [Sri Lankan] military expansion or capability¹¹ poses no threat to India. But Sarath Fonseka would play onto the sentiments within Sri Lanka, trying to play up the Indian military threat to Sri Lanka, in order to gain popularity within his own country."

Both the president and the general are highly popular figures in wake of the victory over the Tamil rebels.

In his request to be relieved of duty, General Fonseka asked the president to allow him to keep a security detail, including trained combat soldiers, and a bullet proof vehicle, saying the defeated rebels are yet capable of trying to kill him.

Fonseka, in 2006, survived an assassination¹² attempt when a suicide bomber¹³ attacked his motorcade.

1 retirement   

n.退休，退职

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。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

2 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 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。

5 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 traitor   

n.叛徒，卖国贼

参考例句：

• The traitor was finally found out and put in prison.那个卖国贼终于被人发现并被监禁了起来。
• He was sold out by a traitor and arrested.他被叛徒出卖而被捕了。

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 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

9 humiliation   

n.羞辱

参考例句：

• He suffered the humiliation of being forced to ask for his cards.他蒙受了被迫要求辞职的羞辱。
• He will wish to revenge his humiliation in last Season's Final.他会为在上个季度的决赛中所受的耻辱而报复的。

10 neutralize   

v.使失效、抵消，使中和

参考例句：

• Nothing could neutralize its good effects.没有什么能抵消它所产生的好影响。
• Acids neutralize alkalis and vice versa.酸能使碱中和碱，亦能使酸中和。

11 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

12 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。

13 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。