VOA标准英语2013--Burma’s President Visits London Amid Accusations Of Ethnic Cleansing

 

Burma’s President Visits London Amid Accusations¹ Of Ethnic² Cleansing³

President Thein Sein has been embraced by the West as a political reformer. 

British Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed him to London in the mutual⁴ hope of developing trade links. They discussed increased military cooperation - though no details were announced.

Speaking at London’s Chatham House policy institute, Thein Sein called Burma’s transformation⁵ unparalleled in modern times.

“Thousands of prisoners have been freed. A special committee, comprised in part of former prisoners, is working diligently⁶ to ensure that no one remains⁷ in prison due to his or her political beliefs. We are reviewing all cases and I guarantee you that by the end of this year there will be no political prisoners of conscience in Burma," he said. 

But outside the British parliament, protestors built a mock graveyard⁸.  They want to highlight what they claim is an attempt at ethnic cleansing against Burma’s minority Rohingya Muslims in the western Rakhine state - and they accuse Prime Minister Cameron of ignoring the conflict.

Ahamed Jarmal is secretary general of the Burmese Rohingya Organization UK.

“Since last year - June 2012 - a state-organized and government backed ethnic cleansing has started.  Many thousands died, and children were burned alive. Many houses (were) burned and nearly 140,000 people were internally displaced," he said. 

On his presidential website, the Burmese leader said Sunday that he had disbanded a security force accused of violations⁹ against the Rohingya.

He did not mention the Rohingya directly in his speech - but predicted a nationwide ceasefire within weeks.

“My government has been working tirelessly for peace. This too is not an easy thing. The remaining conflicts all have an ethnic character and are rooted in long-standing ethnic grievances¹⁰ and aspirations¹¹. And in Myanmar (Burma) there is not just one non-state armed group, but more than a dozen.”

But human rights groups say the targeting of Rohingya continues, prompting campaigners to draw comparisons with the genocide in Rwanda in 1994.  

Ahamed Jarmal of the Burmese Rohingya Organization UK said, “Rohingya - we have got only 800,000 people in Rakhine state. Compare that 800,000 to the nearly 200,000 in IDP (internally displaced persons) camps, massacres¹² and killing¹³ and burning alive. So shall we wait until Rwanda actually happens or shall we raise our voice now?”

Officials say Cameron did raise the issue of the Rohingya during the talks. President Thein Sein denies any state involvement in the violence.

1 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。

2 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。

3 cleansing   

n. 净化(垃圾) adj. 清洁用的 动词cleanse的现在分词

参考例句：

• medicated cleansing pads for sensitive skin 敏感皮肤药物清洗棉
• Soap is not the only cleansing agent. 肥皂并不是唯一的清洁剂。

4 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

5 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

6 diligently   

ad.industriously;carefully

参考例句：

• He applied himself diligently to learning French. 他孜孜不倦地学法语。
• He had studied diligently at college. 他在大学里勤奋学习。

7 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

8 graveyard   

n.坟场

参考例句：

• All the town was drifting toward the graveyard.全镇的人都象流水似地向那坟场涌过去。
• Living next to a graveyard would give me the creeps.居住在墓地旁边会使我毛骨悚然。

9 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

10 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》

11 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

12 massacres   

大屠杀( massacre的名词复数 )； 惨败

参考例句：

• The time is past for guns and killings and massacres. 动不动就用枪、动不动就杀、大规模屠杀的时代已经过去了。 来自教父部分
• Numberless recent massacres were still vivid in their recollection. 近来那些不可胜数的屠杀，在他们的头脑中记忆犹新。

13 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。