《中英對照讀新聞》Tamil Tiger rebels seek catchy new anthem塔米爾之虎反叛軍徵求能琅琅上口的新國歌

◎陳宜君

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels — who already have a national flower and flag for their self-proclaimed state in the parts of the island they control—are now on a quest for a catchy national anthem.

斯里蘭卡的「塔米爾之虎」反叛軍，在他們控制的斯里蘭卡島部份地區自行宣告成立的國家，早已擁有國花和國旗，現在他們徵求一首易於琅琅上口的國歌。

The Tigers fought for two decades against the Sri Lankan government in a war that left over 64,000 dead until a ceasefire in 2002 left them running their own courts, bank, law school, police, customs department and tax system in areas they control.

塔米爾之虎20年來對抗斯里蘭卡政府，戰爭造成超過6萬4千人死亡，直到2002年的停火協議讓他們在掌控的區域內管理自己的法院、銀行、法學院、警察、海關部門和稅務系統。

"Those who engage themselves in writing the Tamil National Anthem should give life and energy with great importance to express the greatness, the glory and the resources of the Tamil homeland," the Tigers said in an appeal.

「參與撰寫塔米爾國歌的人應賦予生命與活力極大的重要性，以表達塔米爾祖國的偉大、榮耀與富饒，」塔米爾之虎在一份呼籲中表示。

The Tigers — who say they want contributions from Tamils both in Sri Lanka and abroad — circulated the statement to media offices in the government-controlled north and east, as well as on pro-rebel Web site www.tamilnet.com.

表示希望接獲斯里蘭卡與海外塔米爾人投稿的塔米爾之虎，將前述聲明發送給政府控制的（斯里蘭卡島）北部和東部的媒體辦事處，以及親反叛軍的網站 www.tamilnet.com。

新聞辭典

Tamil：可當名詞與形容詞。名詞是指印度南部與斯里蘭卡島的塔米爾人，或是其使用的塔米爾語。形容詞則是塔米爾人的、塔米爾語的。

quest：名詞，長期的探尋或探索。例句：They traveled in quest of gold.（他們長途跋涉尋找黃金。）

ceasefire：名詞，停火協定。armistice和truce亦是停火協定，其中armistice和truce意謂短期休兵，ceasefire則是指某段時間內的停止交戰。

contribution：名詞，貢獻、投稿、捐獻。例句：All contributions, however small, will be greatly appreciated.（所有捐款不論金額有多小，我們都深為感激。）