VOA标准英语2010年-Thai Security Forces to Cut Off Power

'Red Shirt' protesters sleep behind photos of the recent violent clashes between protesters and government forces in Bangkok, Thailand, 12 May 2010

The Thai government is stepping up efforts to isolate¹ red shirt protesters in central Bangkok by shutting off utilities and power supplies to the protest site.  Red shirt leaders have vowed² to press on with the protest, despite the threats amid fears of rising tensions after the government had offered a reconciliation³ plan just a week ago.

Thai security forces announced Wednesday all utilities to a protest site in central Bangkok where anti-government rallies have taken place for more than six weeks will be shut down in a bid, to force an end to the protests.

Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd says the military will avoid violence, but at midnight, power and food supplies, as well as transportation lines, will be cut off.

The move to shut off utilities was also affecting hundreds of people in buildings in the vicinity, forcing them to relocate to other temporary accommodation.

Officials say the steps come after the red shirts rejected a peace plan by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.  Last week, Mr. Abhisit set out a five-step plan that included elections in November. Mr. Abhisit threatened to withdraw the election offer if the rally did not end.

The red shirts had said the rallies would end once Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban reported to police to answer questions about the deaths and injuries from an April 10th clash with security forces that left more than 20 protesters and military dead and almost 900 other people injured.

Mr. Suthep, in charge of security at the time, met with Justice Ministry⁴ officials Tuesday.  Protesters say the Justice Ministry's Department of Special Investigation⁵ favors the government.  But the police are viewed as favorable to the red shirts.

Red shirt spokesman Sean Boonpracong says the protesters have sufficient supplies for several days, including their own power generators⁶.

"Far as we are, we are going to stand-by and see how they tighten⁷ up the noose⁸ and see what happens.  I think we have enough supplies to last a few weeks," he said.  "We're not worried.  I believe that they will not be able to close [us down] there are so, so many civilians⁹ here."

The anti-government rallies in the prime commercial area, Rajaprasong, have paralyzed business to the cost of millions of dollars and have cost thousands of jobs, with tourism being hardest hit.

Behind the scenes, negotiations¹⁰ between the government and red shirt leaders had appeared to make progress, in recent days, with both sides edging towards a compromise and an end to the rallies.  But Boonpracong dismissed such steps, now accusing the government of "broken promises".

The rallies began in mid-March, calling for the government to step aside and hold new elections.  Protest leaders interviewed by VOA Tuesday had been upbeat the rallies would end soon.  Late Wednesday, sources within the governing Democrat¹¹ Party remained hopeful a compromise may  still be reached.        

The protests marked a further escalation¹² in political tensions in Thailand, in the past year.  Protesters are largely rural and urban poor and working class who support former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who lives overseas in the face of corruption¹³ charges.  He was ousted¹⁴ in a coup¹⁵ in 2006.  Two pro-Thaksin governments were dismissed by court decisions.

The rallies have also attracted numbers of urban middle class, left wing groups and those opposed to the military.

But analysts¹⁶ say there may be links with harder core military and former army soldiers, allegedly responsible for several grenade explosions and shooting that have left three dead and dozens wounded.
 

1 isolate   

vt.使孤立，隔离

参考例句：

• Do not isolate yourself from others.不要把自己孤立起来。
• We should never isolate ourselves from the masses.我们永远不能脱离群众。

2 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

3 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

4 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

5 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

6 generators   

n.发电机，发生器( generator的名词复数 )；电力公司

参考例句：

• The factory's emergency generators were used during the power cut. 工厂应急发电机在停电期间用上了。
• Power can be fed from wind generators into the electricity grid system. 电力可以从风力发电机流入输电网。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 tighten   

v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧

参考例句：

• Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
• Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。

8 noose   

n.绳套，绞索（刑）；v.用套索捉；使落入圈套；处以绞刑

参考例句：

• They tied a noose round her neck.他们在她脖子上系了一个活扣。
• A hangman's noose had already been placed around his neck.一个绞刑的绳圈已经套在他的脖子上。

9 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

10 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

11 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

12 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

13 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

14 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

15 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

16 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。