VOA慢速英语--医生、石油工人加入反对苏丹军队的抗议活动

Doctors, Oil Workers Join Protests against Sudan Military

The World Bank halted aid to Sudan on Wednesday after the military's capture of power from the transitional government.

Meanwhile, state oil company workers and doctors in Sudan said on Wednesday they were joining protests against the military takeover.

Thousands of people have joined street demonstrations¹ since Monday's takeover led by military chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Several people have been killed in fighting with security forces.

A group of community organizations in the capital Khartoum has announced plans for more protests Saturday. They said it would be a "march of millions."

The announcement by the World Bank comes after Sudan's transitional government had gained about $2 billion in financing in March.

"I am greatly concerned by recent events in Sudan, and I fear the dramatic impact this can have on the country's social and economic recovery and development," World Bank President David Malpass said in a statement from Washington.

In one area of Khartoum on Wednesday, a Reuters reporter saw soldiers and armed people in civilian² clothes removing barriers built by protesters.

A few hundred meters away, young people built more barriers just minutes later. One of them said: "We want civilian rule. We won't get tired."

Burhan on Tuesday defended the military's takeover. He said he removed the government to avoid civil war.

Burhan has dismissed the civilian-military committee that had been set up to create a process for democratic elections. The committee took over after long-ruling dictator Omar al-Bashir was overthrown³ in April 2019.

The military allowed the transitional government's Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok, and his wife, to return home Tuesday night.

Workers at state oil company Sudapet on Wednesday came out against the military takeover.

"We announce (we are) joining the civil disobedience in support of the people's decision backing the civil democratic transformation⁴ and until this demand is achieved," Sudapet said in a statement. The Sudanese Professionals Association, a group of workers' unions, released the message.

Doctors also said they would go on strike.

"As we promised and previously⁵ announced, we would enter a general strike across Sudan in the event of a coup⁶, we are keeping to our word and timing⁷ completely," said the Unified⁸ Doctors' Office, which is made up of different doctors' unions.

The doctors' unions were an early and important group behind the 2019 uprising that brought down Bashir. Other striking groups, including oil and central bank workers, could bring the country's economy to a halt.

Civilian groups have accused the military of planning for weeks to take power.

Burhan spoke⁹ Tuesday to reporters for the first time since the takeover. He said the military had no choice but to remove the government because politicians were turning people against the military. He also said the military's action was not a coup.

‘Serious Risk'

Events in Sudan are similar to several other Arab countries where the military tightened¹⁰ its control following uprisings. Sudan is Africa's third largest country.

Willow¹¹ Berridge is a Sudan expert at Newcastle University in Britain. She said it would be difficult for Burhan and the army to stop street protests. Berridge noted¹² the high number of protest committees in many areas of Khartoum.

"My greatest fear is that he will fall back even further on the only legitimacy¹³ he can depend on – violence. It is a very serious risk," Berridge said.

Burhan has close ties to countries that worked to contain Islamist influence and lessen¹⁴ the impact of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, in places like the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Western countries have denounced the takeover in Sudan, which has a history of military coups¹⁵. But many Arab countries have only called for all groups involved to remain peaceful.

Jonas Horner is with the International Crisis Group. He said the Sudanese military misunderstands "the will on the street quite to their detriment¹⁶." He added that the military is being poorly advised by other Arab nations more supportive of the coup.

The African Union has suspended Sudan's participation¹⁷ in all activities until the civilian-military committee is reestablished.

Words in This Story

disobedience — n. refusal or failure to obey rules, laws, etc.

transformation — n. a complete or major change in someone's or something's appearance, form, etc.

coup — n. a sudden attempt by a small group of people to take over the government usually through violence

uprising — n. a usually violent effort by many people to change the government or leader of a country

legitimate¹⁸ — adj. real, accepted, or official

detriment — n. something that will cause damage or injury to something or someone

1 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

2 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

3 overthrown   

adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词

参考例句：

• The president was overthrown in a military coup. 总统在军事政变中被赶下台。
• He has overthrown the basic standards of morality. 他已摒弃了基本的道德标准。

4 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

5 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

6 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

7 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

8 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

9 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

10 tightened   

收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧

参考例句：

• The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
• His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机，然后又松开了。

11 willow   

n.柳树

参考例句：

• The river was sparsely lined with willow trees.河边疏疏落落有几棵柳树。
• The willow's shadow falls on the lake.垂柳的影子倒映在湖面上。

12 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

13 legitimacy   

n.合法，正当

参考例句：

• The newspaper was directly challenging the government's legitimacy.报纸直接质疑政府的合法性。
• Managing from the top down,we operate with full legitimacy.我们进行由上而下的管理有充分的合法性。

14 lessen   

vt.减少，减轻；缩小

参考例句：

• Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
• They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。

15 coups   

n.意外而成功的行动( coup的名词复数 )；政变；努力办到难办的事

参考例句：

• China has seen many political coups within the ruling class. 中国统治阶级内部发生过很多政变。 来自互联网
• Thailand has had eighteen coups or coup attendance since nineteen thirty-two. 泰国1932年以来有18次政变或参加政变。 来自互联网

16 detriment   

n.损害；损害物，造成损害的根源

参考例句：

• Smoking is a detriment to one's health.吸烟危害健康。
• His lack of education is a serious detriment to his career.他的未受教育对他的事业是一种严重的妨碍。

17 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

18 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。