VOA标准英语2010-US Pressures Cuba After Hunger Strike Dea

The United States and some European nations are increasing pressure on Cuba following the death of a prominent dissident during a hunger strike. Cuban President Raul Castro first expressed regret at the death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo. But now he is firing back, accusing adversaries² of taking advantage of the situation.

Cuban leaders have long defended the nation's human rights record from critics in the U.S. and Europe. President Raul Castro, however, said the latest round of criticism is akin³ to blackmail⁴.

"We will never yield to blackmail from any country or group of nations, no matter how powerful they are," said Raul Castro.

The death of jailed dissident Orlando Zapata Tamayo sparked criticism of Cuba by U.S. and European leaders. Zapata Tamayo fasted for more than 80 days to press for better jail conditions.

At a Communist Youth congress, Mr. Castro said foreign critics are using the death to launch a new media campaign against Cuba.

"They are cynically⁵ manipulating the death of a person jailed for common crimes," he said.

President Obama has said Zapata Tamayo's death was tragic⁶, and he called for the release of all political prisoners in Cuba.

Other dissidents have launched hunger strikes including Cuban journalist Guillermo Farinas. He says he will refuse food until the Cuban government releases 26 political prisoners said to be in poor health.

U.S. officials also are concerned about a group called the Ladies in White, made up of wives and relatives of jailed dissidents.

Gordon Duguid is acting⁷ deputy spokesman at the State Department:

"We're concerned about the welfare of the Damas de Blanco and dismayed that a peaceful march was disrupted by the Cuban government authorities who interfered⁸ with the right of Cuban citizens to peacefully assemble and express their support for their family members who are prisoners of conscience," said Gordon Duguid.

Last month, Cuban-Americans and other Miami residents held a march in support of the Ladies in White. At the same time, in Havana, the Ladies in White tried to march but police intervened.

Pro¹-democracy groups say anti-government sentiment is spreading, partly because of the death of Zapata Tamayo. Recent protests have been reported in areas outside Havana. 

Marcibel Loo monitors human rights in Cuba for the Cuban Democratic Directorate, a pro democracy group in Miami. 

"We are seeing every day that people are not willing to cooperate with the regime," said Marcibel Loo. "So they [the government] have had to conduct beatings and arrests and sacrifice their  image to try to control them."

Loo says the crackdown is not a result of pressure from the White House, rather it's is in response to domestic problems.

"With the marches that are going on not just in Miami, but Los Angeles, and New York, Spain and Brazil, it is tying the Cuban exile community to people on the island," she said. "And that is something new."

Pro-democracy activists⁹ like Loo hope pressure inside and outside the island will yield change in Havana. 

But for the moment, it's unclear how things will play out.
 

1 pro   

n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者

参考例句：

• The two debating teams argued the question pro and con.辩论的两组从赞成与反对两方面辩这一问题。
• Are you pro or con nuclear disarmament?你是赞成还是反对核裁军？

2 adversaries   

n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• That would cause potential adversaries to recoil from a challenge. 这会迫使潜在的敌人在挑战面前退缩。 来自辞典例句
• Every adversaries are more comfortable with a predictable, coherent America. 就连敌人也会因有可以预料的，始终一致的美国而感到舒服得多。 来自辞典例句

3 akin   

adj.同族的，类似的

参考例句：

• She painted flowers and birds pictures akin to those of earlier feminine painters.她画一些同早期女画家类似的花鸟画。
• Listening to his life story is akin to reading a good adventure novel.听他的人生故事犹如阅读一本精彩的冒险小说。

4 blackmail   

n.讹诈，敲诈，勒索，胁迫，恫吓

参考例句：

• She demanded ＄1000 blackmail from him.她向他敲诈了1000美元。
• The journalist used blackmail to make the lawyer give him the documents.记者讹诈那名律师交给他文件。

5 cynically   

adv.爱嘲笑地，冷笑地

参考例句：

• "Holding down the receiver,'said Daisy cynically. “挂上话筒在讲。”黛西冷嘲热讽地说。 来自英汉文学 - 盖茨比
• The Democrats sensibly (if cynically) set about closing the God gap. 民主党在明智（有些讽刺）的减少宗教引起的问题。 来自互联网

6 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

7 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

8 interfered   

v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉

参考例句：

• Complete absorption in sports interfered with his studies. 专注于运动妨碍了他的学业。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I am not going to be interfered with. 我不想别人干扰我的事情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》