VOA标准英语10月-Repression of Pro-Democracy Demonstrations Raises

For the second time in three days, police in Mauritania have used clubs and tear gas to disperse¹ demonstrators calling for the re-instatement of the country's president, who was deposed² in a military coup³ d'etat. The crackdown has heightened tension in West African nation, as we hear from VOA's Scott Bobb in Dakar.
　

Policemen disperse protesters in a street of Nouakchott, 5 Oct. 2008

Pro-democracy activists⁴ rallied Tuesday in Nouakchott, chanting for the return to power of deposed President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi.

But the demonstration⁵ was quickly dispersed⁶ by police using batons⁷ and tear gas. Two people were treated for minor⁸ injuries.

The march was organized by trade unions that oppose the government of Mohamad Ould Abdel Aziz, which two months ago overthrew⁹ President Cheikh Abdallahi, the first elected president in Mauritania in more than two decades.

A pro-democracy coalition¹⁰ of 11 parties called the National Front for the Defense¹¹ of Democracy says it will continue the protests, although its supporters were prevented from demonstrating two days before.
　

Mauritania's junta12 leader Gen. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz in Nouakchott, 07 Aug 2008

The president of the coalition, Oumar Ould Yali, said Mauritania has signed international agreements that forbid taking power by force.

He says those who have the interests of Mauritania at heart should oppose the coup d'etat because investors¹³ will only come if there is stability in the country.

The United States has suspended aid to Mauritania and the African Union issued a deadline, which expired Tuesday, for the government to restore the elected leadership or face diplomatic isolation¹⁴ and economic sanctions.

But many Mauritanian parties support the coup, highlighting a growing rift¹⁵ in Mauritanian society.

The vice¹⁶ president of one of these, Sanghot Ousman Racine of the Union for Democracy and Progress, said Mauritanians should reject any attempt by foreign governments to pressure his country.

He says Mauritania is an independent state and is not controlled by the United Nations or the African Union. He says any solution will have to come from within the country.

Amid the rising tensions another group, called the Mauritanian Intellectuals Club for Democracy and Development, is urging a third way. One of its leaders, former ambassador Mohamed Lemine Ould Ketab, says the AU threat is not helpful.

"Ultimatums¹⁷ are not efficient," he said. "Sanctions are not efficient. They would not bring people to do what they are not ready to do."

His group says Mauritanians must find a solution through dialogue and negotiation¹⁸.

A senior Mauritanian delegation¹⁹ met Tuesday with AU officials in Ethiopia. The African Union subsequently issued a statement saying it was standing²⁰ by its position.

1 disperse   

vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散

参考例句：

• The cattle were swinging their tails to disperse the flies.那些牛甩动着尾巴驱赶苍蝇。
• The children disperse for the holidays.孩子们放假了。

2 deposed   

v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 )；（在法庭上）宣誓作证

参考例句：

• The president was deposed in a military coup. 总统在军事政变中被废黜。
• The head of state was deposed by the army. 国家元首被军队罢免了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 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。

4 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》

5 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。

6 dispersed   

adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的

参考例句：

• The clouds dispersed themselves. 云散了。
• After school the children dispersed to their homes. 放学后，孩子们四散回家了。

7 batons   

n.（警察武器）警棍( baton的名词复数 )；（乐队指挥用的）指挥棒；接力棒

参考例句：

• There were many riot policemen with batons. 有许多带警棍的防暴警察。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Chinese police fight? Number one is a person with batons to fight! 满街飘的中国国旗，是一个老华侨在事发时那出来分给大家的，很感动，真的，从来一向多一事不如少一事的中国人今天团结到一起站出来反抗。 来自互联网

8 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

9 overthrew   

overthrow的过去式

参考例句：

• The people finally rose up and overthrew the reactionary regime. 人们终于起来把反动的政权推翻了。
• They overthrew their King. 他们推翻了国王。

10 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。

11 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。

12 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。

13 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

14 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

15 rift   

n.裂口，隙缝，切口；v.裂开，割开，渗入

参考例句：

• He was anxious to mend the rift between the two men.他急于弥合这两个人之间的裂痕。
• The sun appeared through a rift in the clouds.太阳从云层间隙中冒出来。

16 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

17 ultimatums   

最后通牒( ultimatum的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Environmental groups in Nevada and the Midwest have issued similar ultimatums. 内华达和中西部的环保团体也发布了类似的最后通牒。
• A proactive teacher doesn't deliver ultimatums. [先发制人式]师并不下最后通牒。

18 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

19 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。

20 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。