2007年VOA标准英语-Guinea's Deadliest Day of Opposition Raises Hum

By Phuong Tran
Dakar
23 January 2007

Union leaders in Guinea say they will pursue their strike, despite deadly violence that killed more than 20 people and injured dozens on Monday. But human-rights activists¹ and aid workers are alarmed at conditions in Guinea as the protest finishes its second week. Phuong Tran reports from VOA's West Africa bureau in Dakar.

 
Protesters march during a demonstration², part of a general strike in Conakry, 22 Jan 2007
Upon their release after a night in jail, union leaders vowed³ to continue the strike.

One of National Council of Guinean Workers' leaders and principle organizers of the strikes, Ibrahima Fofona, says union leaders have no choice but to continue the strike.

Another detained union leader, Radiatou Serah Diallo, said negotiations⁴ are needed, but protesters are open to what she called different alternatives.

Protest organizers have called for President Lansana Conte to resign.

Union leaders have also called for a new prime minister with increased powers. President Conte's release of two allies jailed in connection with a corruption⁵ investigation⁶ prompted the protests.

 
Police forces stand guard at the crossroads of some of Conakry's suburban⁷ avenues, 23 Jan 2007  
Meanwhile, peaceful protests were held outside the capital, while in Conakry, heavily armed security forces patrolled the downtown area and main streets.

The prospect⁸ of a continued deadlock⁹ worries Alioune Tine with the Senegal-based African Assembly for the Defense¹⁰ of Human Rights. He urges a peace delegation¹¹ from the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, to hasten its visit.

"We have an emergency in Guinea," he said. "Outsiders [are] very useful in this very difficult time [when] people are combating for democracy and human rights to strengthen their struggle and denounce human rights [abuses] there."

ECOWAS leaders had planned the visit early in the week, but postponed¹² the mediation¹³ attempt after a refusal from Guinea's government to welcome the group.

 
Women sell their goods in front of closed shops in the center of Conakry, 21 Jan 2007
Aid workers say civilians¹⁴ are reeling from the strike's impact.

The two-week work stoppage has shut down banks and most public institutions, stopped production of the country's main mineral export, led to the cancellation¹⁵ of flights in and out of the country, and disrupted the delivery of food and medical supplies.

Director Mamady Cisse, of the International Federation¹⁶ of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies office in Nzerekore in southern Guinea, says he will run out of the supplies if the strike continues.

"We do not have access to our bank accounts to purchase dwindling¹⁷ medical supplies, and even if we did, we cannot get these shipments because of canceled flights. By the end of the month, we may face a major disruption in medical services," said Cisse.

Cisse is also concerned about food and income security.

He said, "Since the roads have been blocked off, producers in small villages cannot get their food products to the bigger markets, which threatens both city food supplies as well as rural producers' income."

 
Lansana Conte (File)
But strikers say they are already suffering amid persistent¹⁸ poverty and inflation, and that what is most important is that President Conte give up his 23-year reign¹⁹.

Union leaders say Mr. Conte was angry at how the military repressed marchers on Monday.

The chain-smoking, diabetic, and gravely ill president has not indicated any willingness to yield power.

1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

3 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

4 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

5 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

6 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

7 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

8 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

9 deadlock   

n.僵局，僵持

参考例句：

• The negotiations reached a deadlock after two hours.两小时后，谈判陷入了僵局。
• The employers and strikers are at a deadlock over the wage.雇主和罢工者在工资问题上相持不下。

10 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

11 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。

12 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

13 mediation   

n.调解

参考例句：

• The dispute was settled by mediation of the third country. 这场争端通过第三国的斡旋而得以解决。
• The dispute was settled by mediation. 经调解使争端得以解决。

14 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

15 cancellation   

n.删除，取消

参考例句：

• Heavy seas can cause cancellation of ferry services.海上风浪太大，可能须要取消渡轮服务。
• Her cancellation of her trip to Paris upset our plan.她取消了巴黎之行打乱了我们的计划。

16 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

17 dwindling   

adj.逐渐减少的v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The number of wild animals on the earth is dwindling. 地球上野生动物的数量正日渐减少。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He is struggling to come to terms with his dwindling authority. 他正努力适应自己权力被削弱这一局面。 来自辞典例句

18 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

19 reign   

n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势

参考例句：

• The reign of Queen Elizabeth lapped over into the seventeenth century.伊丽莎白王朝延至17世纪。
• The reign of Zhu Yuanzhang lasted about 31 years.朱元璋统治了大约三十一年。