VOA标准英语2009年-Few Options Available to Deal With Burma
时间:2019-01-14 作者:英语课 分类:VOA标准英语2009年(八月)
Burma's fellow members in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have expressed "deep disappointment" over opposition 1 leader Aung San Suu Kyi's extended house detention 2. As Western governments call for tougher sanctions, political analysts 3 in the region say there are few viable 4 options for getting the military government to yield on Aung San Suu Kyi's and Burma's political future.
Burmese activists 5 hold a banner calling for the immediate 6 release of detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a protest outside the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, 11 Aug 2009
The decision to extend the house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi has once again raised a question that has long vexed 7 the world - what to do with Burma's military government?
Western governments, including the United States, Britain and France, call for Aung San Suu Kyi's immediate release and talk of applying new or tighter sanctions on the country.
But among Burma's immediate neighbors, reactions were muted. On Wednesday, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which Burma is a member, issued a statement from Bangkok expressing "deep disappointment".
Unchanged ASEAN's position
But ASEAN re-iterated it will continue its policy of constructive 8 engagement with Burma - a strategy that critics say has legitimized the military government without leading to substantive 9 political reforms.
Pavin Chachavalpongpun is lead researcher at the ASEAN Studies Center in Singapore:
"Western sanctions these days almost mean nothing," he said. "The Burmese government acts like they can do whatever they like. Burma has very good relationship with China, China and even Russia. These are not only defender 10 of Myanmar politically but also economically as well."
China, which has significant oil and natural gas interests in Burma, is seen as having the most leverage 11 to pressure Burma to change. But Beijing Wednesday distanced itself from any involvement, calling for respect for Burma's "judicial 12 sovereignty".
"Sanctions and engagement"
Regional political analysts say there are no easy ways to ease Burma's political repression 13 and improve Aung San Suu Kyi's situation. However, some say that ASEAN's engagement policy stands as one of few effective strategies left.
"ASEAN can step in not because ASEAN would do a better job than Western countries, but because Burma has an obligation in ASEAN," said Pavin. "What I think people would want to see is … a right mix between sanctions and engagement."
Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury is a fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore. He says Burma's desire for dialogue with regional organizations such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SARC) opens a way for peer pressure and persuasion 14 to work.
"Generally it is believed here that threats can drive and will drive the regime even further into its shell where it's even more non-cooperative," said Chowdhury.
Test to regional bloc's Charter
Tuesday's decision by the military government tests Burma's commitment to the ASEAN Charter, which requires members to observe democratic principles and protect human rights.
Aung San Suu Kyi was convicted of violating her house arrest because a foreigner was able to sneak 15 uninvited into her heavily guarded compound. The military government sentenced her to 18 more months of detention. She has been under house arrest for 14 of the past 20 years.
Human rights groups say the charges were aimed at preventing Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy from contesting elections next year. The NLD won the last elections in 1990 but the military never allowed it to govern.
The elections are part of the Burma's "road map to democracy", unveiled in 2003. That plan is in part the result of years of urging from ASEAN. Pavin says ASEAN faces a problem: while it is able to persuade the military to make some changes, the results may not be enough.
"ASEAN would have to get on with it," he said. "Then everything will be back to square one again. This is the reality."
Aside from Burma, ASEAN is comprised of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia and Brunei.
- 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。
- He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
- He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。
- 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。
- The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
- The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。
- His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
- Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
- We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。
- The conference spent days discussing the vexed question of border controls. 会议花了几天的时间讨论边境关卡这个难题。
- He was vexed at his failure. 他因失败而懊恼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
- He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。
- They plan to meet again in Rome very soon to begin substantive negotiations.他们计划不久在罗马再次会晤以开始实质性的谈判。
- A president needs substantive advice,but he also requires emotional succor. 一个总统需要实质性的建议,但也需要感情上的支持。
- He shouldered off a defender and shot at goal.他用肩膀挡开防守队员,然后射门。
- The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
- We'll have to use leverage to move this huge rock.我们不得不借助杠杆之力来移动这块巨石。
- He failed in the project because he could gain no leverage. 因为他没有影响力,他的计划失败了。
- He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
- Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。
- The repression of your true feelings is harmful to your health.压抑你的真实感情有害健康。
- This touched off a new storm against violent repression.这引起了反对暴力镇压的新风暴。
- He decided to leave only after much persuasion.经过多方劝说,他才决定离开。
- After a lot of persuasion,she agreed to go.经过多次劝说后,她同意去了。