VOA标准英语2009年-Thai Court Rules Against US Extradition fo

A court in Thailand has rejected a request by the United States to extradite Viktor Bout¹, an alleged² Russian arms smuggler³ believed to have fueled conflicts around the world. The ruling is a set-back to Washington's efforts to see Bout face trial in the U.S. for attempting to sell weapons to Colombian rebels.
　
Alleged Russian arms dealer⁴ Viktor Bout is escorted to a criminal courtroom in Bangkok, Thailand, 11 Aug 2009

The Thai court said it would not extradite Viktor Bout to the U.S. even with evidence that he intended to sell weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the FARC.

The court said Thailand, unlike the United States, did not recognize the FARC as a terrorist group but as a political organization.

As Bout was led from the court hearing, shackled⁵ and in an orange prison uniform, he held up two fingers to journalists in a sign of victory and said "rejoice" in Russian.

James Entwistle is the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok. He attended the hearing and told journalists they were disappointed and mystified at the ruling.

"We think the facts of the case, the relevant Thai law, and the terms of our bilateral⁶ extradition⁷ treaty clearly support the extradition of Viktor Bout to the United States to stand trial on serious terrorism charges," said Entwistel.

Bout was arrested last year at a Bangkok hotel in a joint⁸ Thai-U.S. undercover operation.

U.S. agents posed as FARC rebels looking to buy millions of dollars in missiles and other weapons from Bout. Washington says Bout's weapons could have been used against Americans.

Despite the decision against the extradition, Entwistle highly praised the Thai government's efforts in the Bout case and said the ruling would not affect U.S.-Thai relations.

"We'll consult with the Thai government," he said. "We understand they've made clear their intention to appeal this decision and we will support that in any way that we can."

Viktor Bout was dubbed⁹ the "merchant of death" for allegedly being one of the biggest arms smugglers in the world.

He is accused of selling weapons to the Taleban in Afghanistan, al-Qaeda terrorists, as well as African dictators and warlords.

The Thai court said prosecutors¹⁰ have three days to appeal the ruling.

1 bout   

n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛

参考例句：

• I was suffering with a bout of nerves.我感到一阵紧张。
• That bout of pneumonia enfeebled her.那次肺炎的发作使她虚弱了。

2 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

3 smuggler   

n.走私者

参考例句：

• The smuggler is in prison tonight, awaiting extradition to Britain. 这名走私犯今晚在监狱，等待引渡到英国。
• The smuggler was finally obliged to inform against his boss. 那个走私犯最后不得不告发他的首领。

4 dealer   

n.商人，贩子

参考例句：

• The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
• The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。

5 shackled   

给（某人）带上手铐或脚镣( shackle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The hostage had been shackled to a radiator. 当时人质被铐在暖气片上。
• He was shackled and in darkness of torment. 他被困在黑暗中备受煎熬。

6 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

7 extradition   

n.引渡（逃犯）

参考例句：

• The smuggler is in prison tonight,awaiting extradition to Britain.这名走私犯今晚在监狱，等待引渡到英国。
• He began to trouble concerning the extradition laws.他开始费尽心思地去想关于引渡法的问题。

8 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

9 dubbed   

v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制

参考例句：

• Mathematics was once dubbed the handmaiden of the sciences. 数学曾一度被视为各门科学的基础。
• Is the movie dubbed or does it have subtitles? 这部电影是配音的还是打字幕的？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。