VOA标准英语2008年-Deadly Indonesia Stampede Caused by Ramadan Cas

At least 23 people in Indonesia were crushed to death when a crowd surged forward to receive a cash hand-out from a wealthy family, part of a tradition during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. In addition to the deaths, several people were critically injured. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins in Jakarta has more.
　
Indonesians are pushed into a gate during a stampede for handouts¹ being given by a wealthy family marking Ramadan, in Pasuruan, East Java, Indonesia, 15 Sep 2008

The deadly stampede took place in the eastern Indonesian town of Pasuran, located around 800 kilometers east of the capital Jakarta.

Local officials say hundreds of people were waiting for a cash hand-out of around four dollars when the crowd pushed forward, trapping and crushing many of the victims against a fence.

The cash hand-out was from a wealthy family observing a long-standing tradition of giving during the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan.

The town mayor blamed the tragedy on lack of coordination² with the police during the charity event.

Political analyst³ Sandyawan says this tragedy shows the government remains⁴ strong, while the ordinary people remain weak.

He says the government blames the people for not coordinating⁵ with the police, when in fact it is the government's responsibility to protect the people.

Similar deaths have occurred during other charity events during Ramadan and also during live music events in the country.

Political analyst Sandyawan says the tragedy illustrates⁷ the deep poverty in the country.

He says the government wants to show the international community a positive image of Indonesia, but events such as this tragedy illustrate⁶ the real conditions in the country facing poor people.

Indonesia, a democratic secular⁸ nation, has the world's largest population of Muslims.

 

1 handouts   

救济品( handout的名词复数 )； 施舍物； 印刷品； 讲义

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts. 士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Even after losing his job, he was too proud to accept handouts. 甚至在失去工作后，他仍然很骄傲，不愿接受施舍。

2 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

3 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。

4 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。

5 coordinating   

v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的现在分词 )；协调；协同；成为同等

参考例句：

• He abolished the Operations Coordinating Board and the Planning Board. 他废除了行动协调委员会和计划委员会。 来自辞典例句
• He's coordinating the wedding, and then we're not going to invite him? 他是来协调婚礼的，难道我们不去请他？ 来自电影对白

6 illustrate   

v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图

参考例句：

• The company's bank statements illustrate its success.这家公司的银行报表说明了它的成功。
• This diagram will illustrate what I mean.这个图表可说明我的意思。

7 illustrates   

给…加插图( illustrate的第三人称单数 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明

参考例句：

• This historical novel illustrates the breaking up of feudal society in microcosm. 这部历史小说是走向崩溃的封建社会的缩影。
• Alfred Adler, a famous doctor, had an experience which illustrates this. 阿尔弗莱德 - 阿德勒是一位著名的医生，他有过可以说明这点的经历。 来自中级百科部分

8 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。