2006年VOA标准英语-Security Tight as Tens of Thousands Protes

By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Jakakrta
01 May 2006

Police were out in full force as tens of thousands of workers took to the streets across Asia on Labor¹ Day to call for better working conditions, improved job benefits, and higher pay.

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As police helicopters hovered² overhead, around 10,000 workers shouting "long live labor" protested peacefully in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, Monday, to mark international Labor Day.

Thousands more held demonstrations³ in other Indonesian cities to protest against planned revisions to the labor law, which unions say would reverse workers' rights.

One protester, Raga, says the rights of workers are shrinking in Indonesia as economic conditions worsen for the poor.

"All the employees of Indonesia are getting worse. Because the rules only make the rich getting richer and the poor getting worse," Raga said.

Filipino protesters, riot police scuffle as Labor Day demonstrators try to march towards heavily guarded Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, Monday  
  
In the Philippine capital of Manila, riot police and military forces were on standby because of reports that political opponents of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo⁴ might use May Day (May 1) labor demonstrations to destabilize her government.

Thousands of Filipinos in major cities across the archipelago used the day to demand Mrs. Arroyo's resignation over allegations she cheated in the 2004 elections.

In Cambodia, police briefly⁵ detained Chea Mony, leader of the country's largest labor union. The Police said workers were allowed to gather at union offices to mark Labor Day but could not march in the streets.

Still, more than 1,000 workers defied the ban and marched into the nation's capital of Phnom Penh.

In the Thai capital of Bangkok, workers marched to government headquarters demanding a 25 percent increase in the minimum wage.

And even the youngest of workers did not miss out on the Labor Day celebrations.

In the Jakarta demonstrations, 12-year-old Yusuf heads a delegation⁶ of around 10 street children, many who eke⁷ out an existence on the streets of the capital by singing or selling snacks.

He says the children want their voices to be heard because they are here to support the rights of street children and the rights of poor children everywhere.

And in Malaysia around 2,000 people marched in the capital of Kuala Lumpur, demanding a corruption-free civil service and the protection of migrant workers.

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 hovered   

鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫

参考例句：

• A hawk hovered over the hill. 一只鹰在小山的上空翱翔。
• A hawk hovered in the blue sky. 一只老鹰在蓝色的天空中翱翔。

3 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。

4 arroyo   

n.干涸的河床，小河

参考例句：

• She continued along the path until she came to the arroyo.她沿着小路一直走到小河边。
• They had a picnic by the arroyo.他们在干枯的河床边野餐过。

5 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

6 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

7 eke   

v.勉强度日，节约使用

参考例句：

• They had to eke out a livinga tiny income.他们不得不靠微薄收入勉强度日。
• We must try to eke out our water supply.我们必须尽量节约用水。