VOA标准英语2009年-Youth Organizations in Guinea Set to Launc

By Ricci Shryock
Dakar
09 October 2009

 
Guinean police arrest a protester on 28 Sep 2009 in front of the biggest stadium in the capital Conakry during a protest banned by Guinea's ruling junta¹
After last week's massacre² of dozens of Guineans by government security forces, youth organizations have decided³ to band together. They are organizing a hunger strike as a way to non-violently address the brutality⁴.

The youth of Guinea are searching for a way to publicly protest the September 28 massacre that occurred at a Conakry stadium. Theirno Balde, President of the Federation⁵ of Guinean Youth Associations, says that is one reason behind their efforts to organize a hunger strike for next week.

"I think by organizing a hunger strike, people will know that we are committed to getting involved in this by using peaceful means," he said.

Bolde adds the purpose of the hunger strike is to address last week's events in a non-violent manner and ask that all parties involved gather together to resolve the issue.

Last week's massacre occurred when more than 50,000 demonstraters gathered to protest the anticipated presidential candidacy of the country's current military ruler, Moussa Dadis Camara. Human rights groups say at least 157 people were killed last week. The military says 57 people were killed, most in the crush of protesters fleeing the stadium.

 
Guinea's military leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara speaks to the media, 2 Oct 2009
Captain Camara came to power in Guinea last December in a bloodless coup⁶ launched hours after longtime president Lansana Conte died.

"This is a political issue, and it will stay a political issue, and they have to find a political solution," he said.

Bolde adds the youth cannot demonstrate in the streets for fear of provoking violent reactions from police. The hunger strike is also meant to call for the punishment of those who killed the civilians⁷.

"By organizing a hunger strike, we will send a message to all of them that we are not willing to take any risk, but at the same time, we are not willing just to sit and not to do anything. If people know that they can do whatever they want, without any punishment, they will just go ahead," said Bolde.

Guinea's military government recently announced it will launch what it calls an independent investigation⁸ into last week's killing⁹ of opposition¹⁰ demonstrators by security forces.

The African Union suspended Guinea following Captain Camara's December coup. The AU says it will sanction him later this month unless he makes clear that he will not be a candidate in elections scheduled for January.

Bolde adds that no matter what happens, it will be the youth who pay the higher price.

1 junta   

n.团体；政务审议会

参考例句：

• The junta reacted violently to the perceived threat to its authority.军政府感到自身权力受威胁而进行了激烈反击。
• A military junta took control of the country.一个军政权控制了国家。

2 massacre   

n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀

参考例句：

• There was a terrible massacre of villagers here during the war.在战争中，这里的村民惨遭屠杀。
• If we forget the massacre,the massacre will happen again!忘记了大屠杀，大屠杀就有可能再次发生！

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 brutality   

n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮

参考例句：

• The brutality of the crime has appalled the public. 罪行之残暴使公众大为震惊。
• a general who was infamous for his brutality 因残忍而恶名昭彰的将军

5 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。

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 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。

8 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。

9 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

10 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。