金融时报:胡萝卜加大棒下的缅甸

胡萝卜加大棒下的缅甸

FT社评。

测试中可能遇到的词汇和知识：

pariah [pə'raɪə] n.（印度种姓最低级）贱民

despot ['despɒt] n.暴君；独裁者

Thein Sein 缅甸现任总统吴登盛。其“如2015年缅甸人选择昂山素季担任总统，我将接受她”等表态尤其得到西方社会的赞扬。在缅语中，“吴”字是敬称，有“先生”或“叔叔”的含意，非姓氏。

ambivalence [æm'bɪv(ə)l(ə)ns] n.矛盾心态

pogroms in Rakhine state 若开邦的种族屠杀。自12年六月至十二月，若开邦的罗兴亚人与佛教徒之间爆发了2次大规模暴力冲突。

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.

请根据你所读到的文章内容，完成以下自测题目：

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.

解释：原文中如是说。A与事实不符，吴登盛已经允许昂山素季上任国会议员甚至访问美国了。D也与事实不符。C是正确的，但是并非人权组织批评奥巴马总统的原因。

(2) 答案：D.All of above.

解释：ABC都是正确的。文章第三段中说，缅甸当局已经进行了一些改革了，但要继续推进，吴登盛需要让守旧派看到实实在在的成果。 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.

解释：ABC都是正确的。在下一段中，作者说These are important considerations.访问缅甸是美国return to asia外交政策的一部分。

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

解释：文中最后一段强调了作者的主张：胡萝卜加大棒政策应当继续。