2007年VOA标准英语-Guinea's Capital Breaks Out in Protests, Firefi

By Nico Colombant
Dakar
12 February 2007

Remains1 of a bus that was burnt by demonstrators are seen as people drive past in Conakry, Guinea <br/>(File photo - 25 jan 2007)" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070521/0848540.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Remains of a bus that was burnt by demonstrators are seen as people drive past in Conakry, Guinea (File photo - 25 jan 2007)

At least three people were killed in Guinea Monday, bringing the death toll² to over 80 since protests began last month. Heavy shooting started at a main military base near the capital's airport, while thousands of youths are taking to the streets, amid repression³ by special presidential security units. The violence comes as unions restarted a nationwide strike, now demanding the resignation of President Lansana Conte. Nico Colombant reports from our regional bureau in Dakar.

Local journalist Maseco Conde says the firing came from the Alpha Yaya Camp.

He said shots were fired throughout Conakry and its suburbs as well, as youths tried to take to the streets midday.

The journalist says presidential security units also ransacked⁴ Radio FM Liberte in Conakry, which had been broadcasting a talk show airing angry calls demanding the president's resignation. International radio stations are also off the air.

The presidential guard, led by President Lansana Conte's own son, has been in charge of securing downtown Conakry in recent days.

Earlier, the local radio, FM Liberte, broadcast a statement from the president of Guinea's national assembly, calling for negotiations⁵.

The violence closely follows a meeting between security forces and President Conte late Sunday. Guinean journalists say some army leaders disagreed with the ongoing⁶ repression of the protests.

A nationwide strike suspended for a few weeks also resumed Monday. Union leaders say President Conte had named an ally to become prime minister, going against the spirit of an earlier agreement, calling for a prime minister of wide consensus⁷.

Eugene Camara, the former minister of presidential affairs, was named prime minister on Friday.

Union leaders are now calling for Mr. Conte's resignation.

Human rights West African activist⁸ Ibrahim Kane doubts authorities will go along with that idea. He also believes harsh repression of the protests will continue.

"In Guinea, respect for human life is nothing," he said. "In Guinea, a leader can do what he wants without any consequences. They believe that this position was given to him by God and God is the only person who can take it from him. When I say they, it is not only Conte but it is also the ruling party, those who are supporting him."

Mr. Conte has been in power since a coup⁹ in 1984 despite his deteriorating¹⁰ health. The latest strike action was initiated¹¹ after he unilaterally freed two of his closest allies who had been put in jail as part of a corruption¹² probe.

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

3 repression   

n.镇压，抑制，抑压

参考例句：

• The repression of your true feelings is harmful to your health.压抑你的真实感情有害健康。
• This touched off a new storm against violent repression.这引起了反对暴力镇压的新风暴。

4 ransacked   

v.彻底搜查( ransack的过去式和过去分词 )；抢劫，掠夺

参考例句：

• The house had been ransacked by burglars. 这房子遭到了盗贼的洗劫。
• The house had been ransacked of all that was worth anything. 屋子里所有值钱的东西都被抢去了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

5 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

6 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。

7 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

8 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

9 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。

10 deteriorating   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The weather conditions are deteriorating. 天气变得越来越糟。
• I was well aware of the bad morale and the deteriorating factories. 我很清楚，大家情绪低落，各个工厂越搞越坏。

11 initiated   

n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入

参考例句：

• He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
• The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。

12 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。