2007年VOA标准英语-Security Tightens in Guinea Over Strike Protest

By Nico Colombant
Dakar
19 January 2007

Security is tightening¹ in Guinea over a ten-day-old general strike that has paralyzed economic activity and triggered violent anti-government protests. At least five people have been reported killed amid ongoing² unrest in the capital Conakry, its suburbs and interior cities. VOA's Nico Colombant reports from our regional bureau in Dakar.

Gunfire rang out in the early morning hours in many parts of the country as security forces tried to contain youth groups setting tires ablaze³.

The heaviest police presence was in the downtown area of capital, where union leaders had initially⁴ planned a march, which did not take place.

A small market opened there, but generally the strike was still widely respected, with almost no buses, taxis, shops, banks, or offices operational.

Officials in the country's strategic bauxite⁵ industry said activities in mining towns were being reduced substantially as well, and that the number of boats being loaded for export were starting to be reduced.

Lansana Conte (File)

Union leaders are calling for a new government after President Lansana Conte unilaterally freed two of his allies who had been put in jail as part of a corruption⁶ investigation⁷.

An analyst⁸ with the New York-based group Human Rights Watch, Dustin Sharp, says many Guineans are trying to use historical examples of people-power movements as motivation.

"I have been surprised by the number of people that have mentioned to me the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, so they are certainly aware of the possibility of non-violence," he said. "I do not want to use the word overthrow⁹, but non-violent governmental change based on popular pressure but I am unable to predict which way it is going to go."

The ailing¹⁰ President Conte, who has led his increasingly impoverished¹¹ nation since a coup¹² in 1984, has repeatedly called for the strike to end.

After several of his proposals were rejected, union leaders say the long-time president threatened to have them killed.

Meanwhile, state media has started broadcasting more and more propaganda in his favor.

1 tightening   

上紧，固定，紧密

参考例句：

• Make sure the washer is firmly seated before tightening the pipe. 旋紧水管之前，检查一下洗衣机是否已牢牢地固定在底座上了。
• It needs tightening up a little. 它还需要再收紧些。

2 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

3 ablaze   

adj.着火的，燃烧的；闪耀的，灯火辉煌的

参考例句：

• The main street was ablaze with lights in the evening.晚上，那条主要街道灯火辉煌。
• Forests are sometimes set ablaze by lightning.森林有时因雷击而起火。

4 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

5 bauxite   

n.铝土矿

参考例句：

• Aluminum is made from bauxite.铝是从铝土矿中提炼出的。
• The United States was vulnerable to shortages of chrome,bauxite,and platinum.美国的弱点是缺少铬、矾土和铂。

6 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。

7 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。

8 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

9 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

10 ailing   

v.生病

参考例句：

• They discussed the problems ailing the steel industry. 他们讨论了困扰钢铁工业的问题。
• She looked after her ailing father. 她照顾有病的父亲。

11 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 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。