VOA标准英语2009-Thailand Struggles to Control Southern Viole

Thailand is struggling to end a Muslim insurgency¹ in the south that since 2004 has claimed more than 3,400 lives. The Thai government plans to tackle the violence with more security and development assistance. But, political analysts³ say the focus should be on resolving long-standing grievances⁴ of ethnic⁵ Malay Muslims.

Shootings, bombings, and beheadings in southern Thailand are so common they rarely make front-page news.
　
Thai-Muslim villagers carry body of victim of attack to a cemetery⁶ in Joh-I-Rong district of Narathiwat province, 09 Jun 2009

But a brutal⁷ massacre⁸ at a mosque⁹ in Narathiwat province this month renewed concerns about sectarian violence.

Thai authorities say masked insurgents¹¹ shot dead 11 worshipers in an effort to drive a wedge between the south's Malay Muslims and Thai Buddhists¹³.

Muslims accuse Thai security forces of being behind the shooting.

The suspicions and revenge killing¹⁴ that followed have underscored a dark divide in the south.

A researcher for Human Rights Watch in Thailand, Sunai Phasuk, says the mosque attack fits a pattern of retaliation¹⁵ by rogue¹⁶ elements within Thai security forces.

"The shooting in Narathiwat was not the first attack of [a] Muslim mosque. There have been at least 10 well-documented cases like that,"said Sunai. "But, since 2004 up until now, none of those cases have been properly investigated by the Thai authorities, no arrest warrants have been issued and the gunmen, the perpetrators in those shootings, are still at large and they are making, they are committing, he same crimes again and again."

A 2005 emergency decree gives Thai security forces immunity¹⁷ from prosecution¹⁸ and the authority to detain suspects for up to a month without charges.

Rights groups say security personnel have abused the powers and used torture and extrajudicial killings¹⁹ in their efforts to stamp out southern insurgents. They say the abuses have only encouraged the southern rebellion and alienated²⁰ locals.

Thai authorities deny the accusations²¹.

"We are confident that our personnel, military personnel in the south have been sacrificed for our duty, and make sure that [the people are confident] that we will do all the best to secure safety for the people," said Colonel Parinya Chaidilok, a Thai military spokesman.

There are more than 40,000 military, police, and civilian²² defense²³ volunteers in the south. The government says it is adding several thousand more to try to control the violence.

The government also plans large investments in development projects in the south as part of a campaign to win the hearts and minds of locals.

Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn says the spike²⁴ in attacks is not a trend, but may be an insurgent¹⁰ response to successful security operations and better Muslim-Buddhist¹² cooperation.

"The overall statistics for this year suggest a different trend. Almost 50 percent of the incidents have been decreased," said Panitan. "Almost 35 percent of the deaths have been reduced. That is the statistics that accepted by most agencies - public and private. But, of course, in the isolated²⁵ areas there have been an increase in terms of violent crimes against certain communities."

Most attacks in the south are thought be committed by ethnic Malay Muslims who want to separate the region from Thailand, which is predominately Buddhist.

In the early 1900s, Thailand seized control of the Malay sultanate territory now known as Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala provinces.

The Muslim Malay population, which dominates in the region has often bristled²⁶ under Thai control, and tensions occasionally erupt into violent resistance.

Marc Askew²⁷, a senior research fellow in the center for conflict studies and cultural diversity at the Prince of Songkla University in Pattani, says Thailand's Muslim insurgents have been influenced by global Islamic movements.

"We had Mujahideen fighters coming back from Afghanistan, for example, you have had increase in politicized Islam in Indonesia where large numbers of students from the three provinces went to study," he said. "You had the emergence²⁸ of a more uncompromising, strict Islam coming through as a more of a global trend."

Political analysts say Thailand's southern insurgents are not directly linked to international terrorist groups, but have borrowed some of their tactics - such as beheading victims. They target teachers, farmers, monks²⁹, and Muslims suspected of cooperating with authorities.

A report this week by the International Crisis Group says some teachers at Islamic schools are using the rhetoric³⁰ of global jihad - Muslim holy war - to recruit insurgents.

But the ICG's Thailand analyst², Rungrawee Chalermsripinyorat, says many at the schools are not aware of the recruitment activities.

"What we propose is not to try to crack down on these activities or try to close down these Islamic schools because it will only create further anger among the Malay Muslims. he government should address the grievances of Malay Muslims recognize their distinct identity as a Malay Muslim," said Rungrawee.

Rungrawee says attempts to inspire Thai nationalism in Malay Muslims have resulted in a disregard for their ethnic identity and language. He says Malay Muslims are also underrepresented in southern politics and government jobs.

Rungrawee says for a lasting³¹ peace to take hold the government must correct these imbalances or risk encouraging a steady flow of insurgent recruits.

1 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

2 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。

3 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。

4 grievances   

n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚

参考例句：

• The trade union leader spoke about the grievances of the workers. 工会领袖述说工人们的苦情。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He gave air to his grievances. 他申诉了他的冤情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

6 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。

7 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

8 massacre   

n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀

参考例句：

• There was a terrible massacre of villagers here during the war.在战争中，这里的村民惨遭屠杀。
• If we forget the massacre,the massacre will happen again!忘记了大屠杀，大屠杀就有可能再次发生！

9 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

10 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

11 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

12 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

13 Buddhists   

n.佛教徒( Buddhist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Jesuits in a phase of ascendancy, persecuted and insulted the Buddhists with great acrimony. 处于地位上升阶段的耶稣会修士迫害佛教徒，用尖刻的语言辱骂他们。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史
• The return of Saivite rule to central Java had brought no antagonism between Buddhists and Hindus. 湿婆教在中爪哇恢复统治后，并没有导致佛教徒与印度教徒之间的对立。 来自辞典例句

14 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

15 retaliation   

n.报复，反击

参考例句：

• retaliation against UN workers 对联合国工作人员的报复
• He never said a single word in retaliation. 他从未说过一句反击的话。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 rogue   

n.流氓；v.游手好闲

参考例句：

• The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
• They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。

17 immunity   

n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权

参考例句：

• The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
• He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。

18 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。

19 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

20 alienated   

adj.感到孤独的，不合群的v.使疏远( alienate的过去式和过去分词 )；使不友好；转让；让渡（财产等）

参考例句：

• His comments have alienated a lot of young voters. 他的言论使许多年轻选民离他而去。
• The Prime Minister's policy alienated many of her followers. 首相的政策使很多拥护她的人疏远了她。 来自《简明英汉词典》

21 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

22 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

23 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。

24 spike   

n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效

参考例句：

• The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
• They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。

25 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

26 bristled   

adj. 直立的，多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• They bristled at his denigrating description of their activities. 听到他在污蔑他们的活动，他们都怒发冲冠。
• All of us bristled at the lawyer's speech insulting our forefathers. 听到那个律师在讲演中污蔑我们的祖先，大家都气得怒发冲冠。

27 askew   

adv.斜地；adj.歪斜的

参考例句：

• His glasses had been knocked askew by the blow.他的眼镜一下子被打歪了。
• Her hat was slightly askew.她的帽子戴得有点斜。

28 emergence   

n.浮现，显现，出现，（植物）突出体

参考例句：

• The last decade saw the emergence of a dynamic economy.最近10年见证了经济增长的姿态。
• Language emerges and develops with the emergence and development of society.语言是随着社会的产生而产生，随着社会的发展而发展的。

29 monks   

n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
• He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》

30 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。

31 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。