金融時報:胡蘿卜加大棒下的緬甸

胡蘿卜加大棒下的緬甸

FT社評。

測試中可能遇到的詞匯和知識：

pariah [p?'ra??] n.（印度種姓最低級）賤民

despot ['desp?t] n.暴君；獨裁者

Thein Sein 緬甸現任總統吳登盛。其“如2015年緬甸人選擇昂山素季擔任總統，我將接受她”等表態(tài)尤其得到西方社會的贊揚。在緬語中，“吳”字是敬稱，有“先生”或“叔叔”的含意，非姓氏。

ambivalence [æm'b?v(?)l(?)ns] n.矛盾心態(tài)

pogroms in Rakhine state 若開邦的種族屠殺。自12年六月至十二月，若開邦的羅興亞人與佛教徒之間爆發(fā)了2次大規(guī)模暴力沖突。

Myanmar pressure (402 words)

Choosing when to welcome a pariah state back into the international fold is fraught with risk. The ill-judged rehabilitation of Muammer Gaddafi in 2003 merely reinforced a despot. But Barack Obama has made the right decision to open the door to Myanmar with his historic presidential visit.

Human rights groups have attacked the US president for rushing to legitimise Myanmar’s nominally civilian government before democratic reforms take root. Thein Sein, the reform-minded president, has released hundreds of prisoners, ended media censorship and allowed democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy to enter parliament. But the government’s ambivalence in the face of what look increasingly like anti-Muslim pogroms in Rakhine state shows that human rights are far from entrenched. Many political prisoners also remain in jail, although 60 were set to be freed last night.

It is just for these reasons that the trip is well-timed. It has already prompted a raft of new initiatives on the eve of his arrival. But for reform to continue, Mr Thein Sein needs to show the old guard concrete results. Many still exercise influence in parliament and the government. There is frustration that the US has suspended rather than lifted sanctions. The first visit by a sitting US president is a very public signal that support will be forthcoming if the pace is kept up.

Washington’s act is not selfless. Mr Obama’s six-hour visit is one stop on an Asian tour designed to promote the US as a counterbalance to China’s rising influence in the region. US companies are eager to seize opportunities presented by Myanmar’s rich natural resources.

These are important considerations, but they cannot overshadow the urgent need to press Myanmar’s government, especially on human rights. Its record on protecting the ethnic minorities who make up 30 per cent of the population is dire. Two hundred people are dead and more than 100,000 displaced because of the violence in Rakhine.

Mr Thein Sein has for the first time hinted that this will be addressed. Mr Obama must stress to him that action should be swift and that human rights cannot be sacrificed to strategic and commercial interests. Sanctions once eased can be reinstated. Myanmar’s democratic progress may be fragile, but so too is its rehabilitation. Mr Obama has given Myanmar’s government the carrot of a symbolic presidential visit. But it is not yet time to put away the stick.

請根據你所讀到的文章內容，完成以下自測題目：

1.Human rights groups attacked President Obama because···

A. Aung San Suu Kyi is still under house arrest.

B. they believe their democratic reforms have not taken root.

C. its government is merely nominally civilian.

D. Thein Sein is someone like Muammer Gaddafi.

答案(1)

2.Why does the writer say "that the trip is well-timed"?

A. Because the pogroms in Rakhine state is still ongoing.

B. Because though the government has freed some political prisoners, many others are still in jail.

C. Because President Thein Sein needs to show the old guard concrete results, so that reforms might be pushed forward.

D. All of above.

答案(2)

3.The writer says "Washington’s act is not selfless".

Which of the following is not correct about Washington's act according to the passage?

A. To counterbalance China's growing influence in the region.

B. To help US companies open the gate to invest in Myanmar.

C. It's perfectly normal for the US to think of its self-interest in foreign affaires.

D. None of above.

答案(3)

4.The writer will not say to President Obama that···

A. to encourage further reforms, it's wise to provide the carrot.

B. it's time to put away the stick.

C. you should make it clear that human rights cannot be sacrificed to commercial interests.

答案(4)

* * *

(1) 答案：B.they believe their democratic reforms have not taken root.

解釋：原文中如是說。A與事實不符，吳登盛已經允許昂山素季上任國會議員甚至訪問美國了。D也與事實不符。C是正確的，但是并非人權組織批評奧巴馬總統的原因。

(2) 答案：D.All of above.

解釋：ABC都是正確的。文章第三段中說，緬甸當局已經進行了一些改革了，但要繼續(xù)推進，吳登盛需要讓守舊派看到實實在在的成果。 The first visit by a sitting US president is a very public signal that support will be forthcoming if the pace is kept up.

(3) 答案：D.None of above.

解釋：ABC都是正確的。在下一段中，作者說These are important considerations.訪問緬甸是美國return to asia外交政策的一部分。

(4) 答案：B.it's time to put away the stick.

解釋：文中最后一段強調了作者的主張：胡蘿卜加大棒政策應當繼續(xù)。