VOA标准英语2009年-Strike Shuts Down Guinea's Capital

By Scott Stearns
Dakar
12 October 2009

Guinea's capital has been shut down by a strike called to mourn opposition¹ demonstrators killed by government troops two weeks ago. 

Labor² leaders called the strike as a day of prayer to remember what they say are the "martyrs³ for democracy in Guinea."

 
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 junta⁴
Two weeks ago, troops opened fire on protesters demonstrating against the expected presidential candidacy of Guinea's military ruler. Human rights groups say at least 157 people were killed in Conakry's main sports stadium. The military government says 57 people died, most in the crush of people fleeing the stadium.

Trade unions were an important part of the coalition⁵ that organized that protest. They have now succeeded in shutting down the capital on the first day of a planned two-day strike.

Shops and government offices remained closed, banks and gas stations did not open. The central market was empty.

A reporter for VOA in Conakry says most people stayed at home with no buses and only a few taxis on the streets of the capital.

 
Guinea's military leader Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara (l) walks with Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore as he arrives at Conakry airport, 5 Oct 2009 
The Economic Community of West African States is trying to negotiate an end to the political crisis behind the mediation⁶ of Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore. But the leading opposition coalition of political parties, trade unions, and civil society groups says it will not join those talks unless military ruler Captain Moussa Dadis Camara steps down and his ruling council is dissolved.

This week is the deadline the African Union set to sanction Captain Camara unless he makes clear he will not be a candidate in presidential elections scheduled for January.

The African Union says it is discussing those sanctions with the regional ECOWAS alliance.

Taking power in a coup⁷ last December, Captain Camara said no one in the ruling council would stand as a political candidate. But the council has since decided⁸ all Guineans are free to run in presidential and legislative⁹ elections.

Captain Camara has not announced his candidacy, but he has told supporters he will not insult them by ignoring their demands that he run. 

1 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。

2 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。

3 martyrs   

n.martyr的复数形式；烈士( martyr的名词复数 )；殉道者；殉教者；乞怜者（向人诉苦以博取同情）

参考例句：

• the early Christian martyrs 早期基督教殉道者
• They paid their respects to the revolutionary martyrs. 他们向革命烈士致哀。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 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。

5 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

6 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。

7 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。

8 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。

9 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。