VOA标准英语2013--Turkey Simmers Over Controversial Verdicts

 

Turkey Simmers Over Controversial Verdicts

Discontent is boiling anew in Turkey after a court convicted senior army officers, politicians, writers and others of plotting to overthrow¹ the government.  Supporters of the 275 defendants² say the verdicts are part of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's campaign to eliminate his enemies.

Turkish police used tear gas and water cannon³ Monday to disperse⁴ protesters outraged⁵ to find that the road to a courthouse in Silivri, near Istanbul, was blocked by security forces.  

Retired⁶ general Ilker Basbug, former chief of the country's armed forces, was convicted of involvement in the Ergenekon plot, named after a mythical⁷ homeland of Turks.  He and at least five other senior officers were sentenced to life in prison.  

Turkish parliament member Akif Hamzacebi condemned⁸ the verdict.   

"This is a menace to the army of the Republic of Turkey. This is not acceptable," he said. "If you are trying someone who has been the commander of the Turkish armed forces for being a member of a terrorist organization, that means you are targeting and trying the army of the Republic of Turkey. This nation won't accept it. As the Republican People's Party [CHP], we are not accepting it." 

The five-year trial involving 275 people has divided public opinion.  Critics accuse the government of using the case to silence dissenters⁹, and supporters call it a victory for democracy because it sidelines the military.  Turkey's army has ousted¹⁰ four governments since 1960. 

Government spokesman Bulent Arinc urged the public Monday to respect the verdicts against senior officers, lawyers, writers and journalists.  

"Amongst them, there are names who are really well known by the public, there are some people who served as chief of staff in army, some rectors, and even some high level bureaucrats," he noted¹¹. "But this is a fact of the judiciary system that no one has any privilege to commit a crime. The court gave the best decision according to itself and we will see the upcoming phases.  We are not becoming happy or clapping as anyone is being arrested but there is verdict and we must respect it"

Turkey has been the scene of mass protests since June, sparked by a government decision to turn a central Istanbul park into a commercial complex.  Many Turks are concerned about what they see as the increasingly authoritarian¹² rule of Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party.  

1 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

2 defendants   

被告( defendant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The courts heard that the six defendants had been coerced into making a confession. 法官审判时发现6位被告人曾被迫承认罪行。
• As in courts, the defendants are represented by legal counsel. 与法院相同，被告有辩护律师作为代表。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

3 cannon   

n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮

参考例句：

• The soldiers fired the cannon.士兵们开炮。
• The cannon thundered in the hills.大炮在山间轰鸣。

4 disperse   

vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散

参考例句：

• The cattle were swinging their tails to disperse the flies.那些牛甩动着尾巴驱赶苍蝇。
• The children disperse for the holidays.孩子们放假了。

5 outraged   

a.震惊的，义愤填膺的

参考例句：

• Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。
• He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。

6 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

7 mythical   

adj.神话的；虚构的；想像的

参考例句：

• Undeniably,he is a man of mythical status.不可否认，他是一个神话般的人物。
• Their wealth is merely mythical.他们的财富完全是虚构的。

8 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。

9 dissenters   

n.持异议者，持不同意见者( dissenter的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He attacked the indulgence shown to religious dissenters. 他抨击对宗教上持不同政见者表现出的宽容。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• (The dissenters would have allowed even more leeway to the Secretary.) （持异议者还会给行政长官留有更多的余地。） 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

10 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。

11 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

12 authoritarian   

n./adj.专制(的)，专制主义者，独裁主义者

参考例句：

• Foreign diplomats suspect him of authoritarian tendencies.各国外交官怀疑他有着独裁主义倾向。
• The authoritarian policy wasn't proved to be a success.独裁主义的政策证明并不成功。