2007年VOA标准英语-Guinea's President Declares State of Emergency

By Nico Colombant
Dakar
12 February 2007

Guinea's President Lansana Conte has declared a state of emergency following renewed violence that left at least a dozen people dead in the capital. This came as union leaders resumed a nationwide strike Monday which calls on Mr. Conte to resign. VOA's Nico Colombant reports from our regional bureau in Dakar.

 
Lansana Conte (2002 photo)
Speaking on state television, Mr. Conte called for a state of emergency. He ordered all army chiefs of staff to take necessary measures to reestablish public order and protect Guinea against the risk of civil war.

An 8 p.m. to 6 a.m curfew was immediately established.

The president said despite the government's effort to satisfy union demands, "badly intentioned people" were destroying private property and ridiculing¹ state authority.

The military now has the right to arrest anyone it believes threatens state security.

An exiled opposition² activist³, Amara Camara, reacted angrily.

"I think that it is an insult for the country actually," said Amara Camara. "If the country decides that they do not want him, he should be leaving the power and not implement⁴ martial⁵ law. I think that is a big insult for the country at this moment."

In recent days, Mr. Conte has been paying extra bonuses to some army leaders while quickly promoting others to top security positions.

 
Remains of a bus that was burnt by demonstrators are seen as people drive past in Conakry, Guinea
(File photo - 25 jan 2007)
The presidential guard, led by his son, has played a key role in securing downtown Conakry. The guard Monday ransacked⁶ a private radio station, while callers demanded Mr. Conte's resignation.

The U.S-based group Human Rights Watch says there is credible⁷ information indicating former Liberian rebels are in Conakry helping⁸ to defend Mr. Conte's rule.

But there was burning and looting of many government offices and residences in the interior of Guinea.

Camara says he believes despite martial law, Mr. Conte's days in power may be numbered.

"I think it is not going to take that long anymore," he said. "What I think, my personal impression, he is now learning his lessons at this moment. This man should resign or the army is going to get up against him that is what I think is going to happen."

Mr. Conte has been in power since a coup⁹ 23 years ago and ruled since last April without a prime minister. More than 100 people have died in the union led protests which began in January, stopped for a few weeks, but started again after Mr. Conte named a close ally as new prime minister on Friday. The unions are now demanding Mr. Conte step down.

1 ridiculing   

v.嘲笑，嘲弄，奚落( ridicule的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Proxmire has made himself quite a reputation out of ridiculing government expenditure he disagrees with. 普罗克斯迈尔对于他不同意花的政府开支总要取笑一番，他因此而名声大振。 来自辞典例句
• The demonstrators put on skits ridiculing the aggressors. 游行的人上演了活报剧来讽刺侵略者。 来自互联网

2 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。

3 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。

4 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

5 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

6 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》

7 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

8 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

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。