VOA标准英语2009年-UN Chief Urges Burma to Release All Political P

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has again urged Burma's military government to release all political detainees after only a token number of political prisoners were freed during a general amnesty that began Saturday. The U.N. chief also says he is willing to make another visit to that country, which is also known as Myanmar, to discuss political reforms.
　
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (file)

Mr. Ban noted¹ that the authorities in Burma have announced they plan to release some 6,000 prisoners under a general amnesty that began on Saturday, but only about 20 are political detainees.

"I would welcome this announcement of amnesty as a first step toward larger and bigger implementation³ by the Myanmar authorities," he said. "There are still hundreds and hundreds of detainees under political reasons. As I said, I would urge the Myanmar authorities to release all detainees, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi."
　
Burma's detained opposition⁴ leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Ibrahim Gambari, UN special envoy⁵ to Burma, during their meeting in Rangoon, Burma (2008 file)

Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for 13 of the last 19 years.

Mr. Ban was speaking to reporters following a meeting of the so-called Group of Friends of Myanmar, which includes Asian nations, the European Union, Norway, India and the permanent five members of the Security Council - China, Britain, France, Russia and the United States.

Last May, the U.N. Secretary-General went to Burma after Cyclone⁶ Nargis devastated⁷ parts of that country to express his support for the Burmese people. He also met with the country's top official, Senior General Than Shwe. Asked if he would be willing to return there to press the authorities to implement² commitments they have made to move the country toward democracy, Mr. Ban said he is willing to go, but nothing has been discussed yet.

"As a matter of principle I am telling you I am willing to make a return visit to build upon what I had discussed last May, including the political issues," he said.

On Friday, Mr. Ban's Special Advisor⁸, Ibrahim Gambari, who has recently returned from Burma, told the Security Council that his latest trip produced "no tangible⁹ results." Gambari also briefed the Group of Friends on his mission during Monday's closed-door meeting.

A military government has ruled Burma since 1962. Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party won the last general elections in 1990, but military leaders never recognized the results of that race.

1 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

2 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

3 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。

4 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。

5 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。

6 cyclone   

n.旋风，龙卷风

参考例句：

• An exceptionally violent cyclone hit the town last night.昨晚异常猛烈的旋风吹袭了那个小镇。
• The cyclone brought misery to thousands of people.旋风给成千上万的人带来苦难。

7 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

8 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

9 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。