VOA慢速英语2014 印尼人抗议燃料价格飙升

 

Indonesians Protest Rising Fuel Prices 印尼人抗议燃料价格飙升 

In Indonesia, rising fuel prices have led some public transportation groups to go on strike.

Joko Suprapto is chairman of the Organization of Land Transport Owners in the city of Solo. He announced that all public transportation there is on strike after Indonesia’s government suddenly cut spending on fuel subsidies¹. The spending helped to keep fuel prices low. Joko Suprapto wants the government to reconsider the price increase.

He says, “At least give us some kind of help; give us subsidies for additional parts. The government has ordered a limit on the cost of bus ride to just 10 percent. That is unrealistic and we reject it. With conditions in the field, it should be 25 to 30 percent.”

City officials in Solo expressed opposition² to the government’s plan. They are now forced to make changes, such as making budget cuts and delaying development projects.

On Monday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said the government would cut the financial support on fuel. The move led to a 30 percent increase in fuel and other prices overnight.

In an effort to limit the effects of the strike, the government has prepared other forms of transportation. Djoko Widodo is with the East Java transit³ agency. He says a number of military and government vehicles have been deployed⁴ to help passengers in Solo.

He says, “We are looking at the condition of the area, like this morning when the strike began. We immediately worked with the military, police and city government to have their trucks and their operational transportation to drive passengers, without asking people to pay.”

Demonstrations⁵ are expected to take place in the coming days, with hopes of cancelling the fuel price increase.

The president has admitted the unpopularity of his decision. But he has described the cuts as a compromise to increase government assistance to poor Indonesians. He says the move is needed so that fuel subsidies can be redirected to other programs, such as education and public works projects.

Words in This Story

public - adj. of or about all the people in a community or country; opposite private

strike – n. a period when workers stop working as way to seek better conditions, more pay or to make other demands

fuel - n.  any substance burned to create heat or power

subsidy⁶ – n. money that is paid usually by a government to keep the price of a product or service low.

cuts - n. an action to make less or reduce

1 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

4 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

5 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

6 subsidy   

n.补助金，津贴

参考例句：

• The university will receive a subsidy for research in artificial intelligence.那个大学将得到一笔人工智能研究的补助费。
• The living subsidy for senior expert's family is included in the remuneration.报酬已包含高级专家家人的生活补贴。