2006年VOA标准英语-Protests Greet Bush Visit to Indonesia

By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Jakarta
20 November 2006

Protests across Indonesia greet the visit of President Bush to Indonesia, a democratic nation with the world's largest Muslim population. Mr. Bush will meet Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to discuss a variety of issues during his six and a half hour visit.

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Thousands of angry Indonesians took to the streets singing "reject Bush now" ahead of Monday's visit by President Bush. Police tightened¹ security around the capital Jakarta and the city of Bogor, 30 kilometers to the south, where the two leaders are meeting.

Indonesian Muslim students protest against an upcoming visit to Indonesia by U.S. President George W. Bush. Saturday, November 20, 2006, in Bogor, Indonesia.

Shouting "Bush is a terrorist", hundreds of students, militant² Muslims, and ordinary people carry banners saying Bush is between around 50 protesters and police as demonstrators tried to push through a police cordon³. Elsewhere in the city, thousands more held protests. Police say they are on alert for a possible suicide bombing during Mr. Bush's visit after receiving information of a possible terrorist attack.

Indonesia has suffered a number of bombings during the past several years by the regional terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah, which is linked to al-Qaida.

The United States considers Indonesia an important ally in the fight against terrorism. Jakarta has arrested and convicted more than 300 militants⁴ in the past three years. Although the U.S. and Indonesia have good relations, many Indonesians are angry at U.S. military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Many Indonesians believe the United States is attacking Islam in those countries, and are angry over what they perceive as U.S. bias⁵ toward Israel.

Dedi, a student leader, says Mr. Bush's visit does not serve the interests of the Indonesian people. He says the government should reject the visit of the U.S president and uphold the sovereignty of Indonesia. Dedi calls Bush a "world criminal" for the war in Iraq and U.S. treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

The Middle East and the war in Iraq are expected to be covered during Monday's talks, along with ways the United States can help Indonesia with improve education, ease poverty, fight health threats such as bird flu and attract foreign investment.

1 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。

2 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

3 cordon   

n.警戒线，哨兵线

参考例句：

• Police officers threw a cordon around his car to protect him.警察在他汽车周围设置了防卫圈以保护他。
• There is a tight security cordon around the area.这一地区周围设有严密的安全警戒圈。

4 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

5 bias   

n.偏见，偏心，偏袒；vt.使有偏见

参考例句：

• They are accusing the teacher of political bias in his marking.他们在指控那名教师打分数有政治偏见。
• He had a bias toward the plan.他对这项计划有偏见。