VOA标准英语2009年-UN Envoy Meets with Detained Burmese Opposition

The United Nations' special envoy¹ on Burma has met with detained Burmese opposition² leader Aung San Suu Kyi, to discuss political reform in the military-run country. But it is not clear if the military's top leader will grant him a similar meeting.
　
Burma's detained opposition leader Aung san Suu Kyi and Ibrahim Gambari, U.N. special envoy to Myanmer, during their meeting at the state guest house in Yangon, Myanmar (2008 file)

The U.N. envoy on Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, met for more than an hour Monday with Aung San Suu Kyi and other opposition leaders at the state guest house.

Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed to leave her villa³ compound, where Burma's military-led government has kept her under house arrest for most of the last 18 years.

"Certainly that he's been able to meet her this time is, in itself, very significant. But, of course, we don't know what was discussed," said Aye Win, a U.N. spokesman based in Burma.

The meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi is a step forward, compared to the envoy's last visit in August. During that visit, she declined to meet the envoy after he was refused a meeting with Burma's top military leader, General Than Shwe.

It is not clear if General Shwe will meet with Gambari during his four-day visit, which ends Tuesday.

Shortly after the meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, a spokesman for her National League for Democracy party called for the release of political prisoners.

Human rights organizations say there are more than 2,000 political prisoners in Burma.

Gambari is in Burma to encourage the release of political prisoners and implementation⁴ of political reform.

The military government says it will hold multi-party elections in 2010, as part of its "road map to democracy." But the generals have already written a new constitution that will ensure the military stays in power.

Thailand-based political analyst⁵ Win Min says the military leaders have shown no concessions⁶.

"I doubt it will be a free and fair election, given the restrictions⁷, and the regressions the military has been doing," Min said. "So, I doubt there will be free and fair elections, if the situation continues like this."

The military has ruled Burma since 1962, crushing any opposition.

The military leaders allowed an election in 1990 that Aung SanSuu Kyi's party won by a landslide⁸. The military then refused to honor the results, imprisoned⁹ opposition leaders and placed Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest.

1 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

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 villa   

n.别墅，城郊小屋

参考例句：

• We rented a villa in France for the summer holidays.我们在法国租了一幢别墅消夏。
• We are quartered in a beautiful villa.我们住在一栋漂亮的别墅里。

4 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

5 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。

6 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

7 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

8 landslide   

n.(竞选中)压倒多数的选票；一面倒的胜利

参考例句：

• Our candidate is predicated to win by a landslide.我们的候选人被预言将以绝对优势取胜。
• An electoral landslide put the Labour Party into power in 1945.1945年工党以压倒多数的胜利当选执政。

9 imprisoned   

下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was imprisoned for two concurrent terms of 30 months and 18 months. 他被判处30个月和18个月的监禁，合并执行。
• They were imprisoned for possession of drugs. 他们因拥有毒品而被监禁。