VOA标准英语2009年-UN Chief Begins Talks with Burmese Militar

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is meeting with Burma's top military ruler, General Than Shwe. He is urging the general to release political prisoners, including opposition¹ leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
　
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (L)meets with Burma's junta² leader Senior General Than Shwe (R), at the Bayint Naung Yeiktha, in Naypyidaw, 03 Jul 2009

Mr. Ban met Friday with General Than Shwe to push for the release of more than 2,000 political prisoners.

Mr. Ban told journalists before arriving in Burma that he would ask to meet with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and urge General Than Shwe to release her.

"This is going to be, I know, a very difficult mission," he said. "I know that to bring changes … we need to do our best."

In the past two years, Burma's military government has almost doubled the number of people locked up for opposing military rule.

Benjamin Zawacki, a Burma researcher in Bangkok for Amnesty International, says they face harsh conditions.

"For most political prisoners, torture is endemic, the food is below standard and medical care is extraordinarily³ limited," he said. "There has been, I believe, 41 political prisoners if I'm not mistaken, who have died in the prison system essentially⁴ as a result of poor medical conditions, poor medical treatment, etc."

Rights groups have warned the U.N. chief's visit could be used by the military as propaganda.

Zawacki says Burma's military rulers, officially called the State Peace and Development Council, are well-versed in manipulation.

"I think Ban Ki-moon needs to be quite careful in his visit. But, I do think if he focuses on his agenda and sends a very clear signal, then the ball is in the court of the SPDC to respond or not to respond adequately," said Zawacki.

Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won Burma's last elections in 1990. But the military refused them power and has locked the democracy icon⁵ in her house for most of the time since.

They are now seeking to put her in jail for up to five years for allowing an uninvited man who snuck into her house to stay without official permission.

On Friday, Aung San Suu Kyi's trial was delayed for a week. It has been internationally condemned⁶ as an excuse to keep her locked up through next year's elections.

 

1 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。

2 junta   

n.团体；政务审议会

参考例句：

• The junta reacted violently to the perceived threat to its authority.军政府感到自身权力受威胁而进行了激烈反击。
• A military junta took control of the country.一个军政权控制了国家。

3 extraordinarily   

adv.格外地；极端地

参考例句：

• She is an extraordinarily beautiful girl.她是个美丽非凡的姑娘。
• The sea was extraordinarily calm that morning.那天清晨，大海出奇地宁静。

4 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

5 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

6 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。