缅甸释放数十名政治犯

短语讲解：

1. Rights groups have welcomed their release but are urging that all political prisoners be set free.

set free释放，解放
例句：The prisoner was set free.
那名囚犯获释了。

2. He spoke after his release to VOA's Burmese service, comparing authorities in Burma to Somali pirates.

compare to与…相比
例句：The writer was compared to Shakespeare.
把这个作家与莎士比亚进行了比较。

3. He urges Burma’s politicians to do more than just talk, and take real actions.

take action采取行动, 行动起来
例句：The police had to take firm action to deal with the riots.
警方不得不采取果断行动来对付骚乱。

4. Despite the emergency, authorities delayed acceptance of international help, which critics say added to the death toll.

add to增加, 加强
例句：This lesson adds to the value of the book.
这一课增加了这本书的价值。

5. She was arrested in 2008, sentenced to four years, and due to be released anyway. She spoke by phone with VOA's Burmese service.

be due to do预计，预期
例句：The boat is due to arrive at 12.
船预计在12点到。

6. She says of those released, two were charged with associating with an illegal organization and four of them were arrested for other political activities

charge with指控…犯有罪
例句：They charged him with negligence of duty.
他们指责他玩忽职守。
associate with与…交往, 联系
例句：Foreigners always associate China with the Great Wall.
外国人总是把中国和长城联系在一起。

7. "It's early, too early, to say conclusively whether or not this will be the sum total of those released or whether or not the figure will grow beyond the double digits and into the triple digits," said Benjamin Zawacki of Amnesty International in Bangkok.

whether or not 是否
例句：Whether you like the idea or not, I'm going ahead with it.
无论你是否喜欢这个意见, 我将继续做下去。

8. Zawacki points out that Burma’s democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was on several occasions released from her nearly two decades of house arrest, but her movements were restricted and she was later locked up.

point out指出
例句：He pointed out that there was little chance of success.
他指出很少有成功的机会。
lock up将…锁住〔关押〕
例句：The idea is locked up in his brains. We know nothing.
他把自己的想法藏在脑子里, 我们一无所知。

9. Nonetheless, in recent weeks authorities have taken steps indicating at least some in government may be interested in reform.

take steps采取措施
例句：They took steps to prevent the spread of influenza.
他们采取措施阻止流感的传播。

10. It was last scheduled to hold the rotating chair in 2005 but ASEAN was pressured to skip Burma due to its poor human rights record.

be scheduled to预计，预期
例句：He is scheduled to arrived tomorrow.
他定于明天到达。