Some worry El Salvador's president is amassing too much power

Some worry El Salvador's president is amassing¹ too much power

　　Transcript²

　　The president of El Salvador has instituted special emergency powers to crack down on gang violence.

　　A MARTINEZ, HOST:

　　In El Salvador, a state of emergency has been declared, and security forces are cracking down on gangs. A roundup of suspected gang members began Sunday after more than 80 people were killed in one of the most violent weekends in recent memory. But as NPR's Carrie Kahn reports, there is fear that El Salvador's president will exploit the crisis to suppress political opposition³.

　　CARRIE KAHN, BYLINE⁴: Salvador's attorney general said Tuesday that nearly 1,500 alleged⁵ gang members were captured with, quote, "not a single shot fired." The national police's Twitter feed is full of images of arrested gang members, and President Nayib Bukele's feed also shows his government's get-tough strategy.

　　(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

　　UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: (Speaking Spanish).

　　UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: (Speaking Spanish).

　　UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: (Speaking Spanish).

　　KAHN: This video uploaded on his account shows prisoners, only in white boxer⁶ shorts, being hauled out of cells and pushed down to an open patio⁷. Bukele warns that this tough treatment will continue if the killings⁸ don't stop. Residents say police and soldiers are restricting movements in and out of some neighborhoods.

　　CARMEN COLORADO: (Speaking Spanish).

　　KAHN: San Salvador resident Carmen Colorado, contacted by phone, says she's scared and only leaves the house to get food and take out the garbage. Saturday's death toll⁹ hit 62, the highest daily number of homicides in decades. Gang members killed people indiscriminately, even targeting street vendors¹⁰ and bus passengers. It's not clear what unleashed¹¹ the wave of violence, says Jose Miguel Cruz, a gang expert at Florida International University.

　　JOSE MIGUEL CRUZ: From what we know, in the past, it's very likely that, you know, whatever agreement the government had with the gangs has apparently¹² collapsed¹³.

　　KAHN: President Bukele denies he's made any deals with violent gangs. But last year, U.S. officials slapped sanctions on members of his government who they say gave perks¹⁴ and other benefits to the gangs to quell¹⁵ the killings. Under the state of emergency, police can detain people without charges for up to two weeks, limit assembly and tap phones without a judge's order. Jeanette Aguilar, a Salvadoran security analyst¹⁶ and human rights advocate, says it's troubling that President Bukele rushed to take such extreme measures. She says he already controls the Congress, the police and the judiciary and has been accused of using his power to quash critics.

　　JEANETTE AGUILAR: (Speaking Spanish).

　　KAHN: But she says the extreme violence has shaken his strongman image which has made him so popular. His approval ratings hover¹⁷ around 85%. The state of emergency is in effect for 30 days but can be extended.

　　Carrie Kahn, NPR News, Mexico City.

1 amassing   

v.积累，积聚( amass的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The study of taxonomy must necessarily involve the amassing of an encyclopaedic knowledge of plants. 分类学研究一定要积累广博的植物知识。 来自辞典例句
• Build your trophy room while amassing awards and accolades. 建立您的奖杯积累奖项和荣誉。 来自互联网

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 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。

4 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

5 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

6 boxer   

n.制箱者，拳击手

参考例句：

• The boxer gave his opponent a punch on the nose.这个拳击手朝他对手的鼻子上猛击一拳。
• He moved lightly on his toes like a boxer.他像拳击手一样踮着脚轻盈移动。

7 patio   

n.庭院，平台

参考例句：

• Suddenly, the thought of my beautiful patio came to mind. I can be quiet out there,I thought.我又忽然想到家里漂亮的院子，我能够在这里宁静地呆会。
• They had a barbecue on their patio on Sunday.星期天他们在院子里进行烧烤。

8 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

9 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。

10 vendors   

n.摊贩( vendor的名词复数 )；小贩；（房屋等的）卖主；卖方

参考例句：

• The vendors were gazundered at the last minute. 卖主在最后一刻被要求降低房价。
• At the same time, interface standards also benefIt'software vendors. 同时，界面标准也有利于软件开发商。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

11 unleashed   

v.把（感情、力量等）释放出来，发泄( unleash的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The government's proposals unleashed a storm of protest in the press. 政府的提案引发了新闻界的抗议浪潮。
• The full force of his rage was unleashed against me. 他把所有的怒气都发泄在我身上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

13 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

14 perks   

额外津贴，附带福利，外快( perk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Perks offered by the firm include a car and free health insurance. 公司给予的额外待遇包括一辆汽车和免费健康保险。
• Are there any perks that go with your job? 你的工作有什么津贴吗？

15 quell   

v.压制，平息，减轻

参考例句：

• Soldiers were sent in to quell the riots.士兵们被派去平息骚乱。
• The armed force had to be called out to quell violence.不得不出动军队来镇压暴力行动。

16 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。

17 hover   

vi.翱翔，盘旋；徘徊；彷徨，犹豫

参考例句：

• You don't hover round the table.你不要围着桌子走来走去。
• A plane is hover on our house.有一架飞机在我们的房子上盘旋。