VOA标准英语2014--Ukraine Revolutionaries Vow to Stay in Kyiv's Maidan

 

Ukraine Revolutionaries Vow¹ to Stay in Kyiv's Maidan

KYIV — Ukrainian activists² who fought for change in their capital's Independence Square are refusing to leave the public space that became the focal point of anti-government protests which in February toppled a pro-Moscow government and paved the way for a new one to take charge.

For members of a self-defense group from the Ukrainian city of Odessa, the revolution is not over.

Defying orders to tear down one of the many barricades³ still blocking the roads in downtown Kyiv, they say they will stay until they are sure the political reforms they fought for have taken hold.

One fighter, Kostya, says he gave up everything for the struggle and is not ready to go back.

"I lost my job.  I have separated from my family.  I left Odessa and I did not leave for nothing.  I left to fight for my motherland so that Ukraine will be united," says Kostya.

They came from across Ukraine in bands called "hundreds," setting up tents and barriers in Kyiv's Maidan, or Independence Square, to call for change.

Stacks of bricks and tires remain from the February protests that forced the ousting⁴ of Russian-backed leader Viktor Yanukovych.

A new president, Petro Poroshenko, is set to take office this week.

Meantime, the country's attention has turned toward the smoldering⁵ battle with pro-Russian separatists in the east and the government has asked citizens to join the fight.

Some activists in Maidan say they supported the cause, but are not going anywhere.

Konstantin Klymashenko heads a civilian⁶ group that cooked meals throughout the protests.

"There will be certain rotation⁷.  People from the east will come here to rest and people from here will go there to fight.  And we will just keep feeding them," says Konstantin.

The Maidan serves another role - as a living memorial.  The streets are lined with a growing number of dedications⁸ to some 100 protesters killed in battles with police - a group known as the "heavenly hundred."

In their memory, some activists want to establish the square as a center for continued political discussion.

Ivan Kukurudziak says those who gave their lives fought for more than just a change of leadership.

"When Yanukovych left it was just a process, it was not a win.  And when Poroshenko becomes president it's not a win, it's just a process.  So Maidan should be a place of activism, of innovation and propositions until the dreams of the people who died will come true," says Kukurudziak.

Kukurudziak wants to see a permanent place here for the organizations that supported the cause.

But not everyone agrees that Maidan should stay.  Anita, a medical student, helped injured protesters during the demonstrations⁹.  She says the square has already served its purpose.

"I think that right now Maidan is not needed and if people will need it, they will come out again.  Now I do not think Maidan is playing any role," says Anita.

The city is ready to move on and the new mayor has called for Maidan to be cleared.  But it may be harder to convince those who believe - or who want to believe - that there is still a battle here to be fought.

1 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

2 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》

3 barricades   

路障，障碍物( barricade的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The police stormed the barricades the demonstrators had put up. 警察冲破了示威者筑起的街垒。
• Others died young, in prison or on the barricades. 另一些人年轻时就死在监牢里或街垒旁。

4 ousting   

驱逐( oust的现在分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• The resulting financial chaos led to the ousting of Bristol-Myers' s boss. 随后引发的财政混乱导致了百时美施贵宝的总裁下台。
• The ousting of the president has drawn widespread criticism across Latin America and the wider world. 洪都拉斯总统被驱逐时间引起拉丁美洲甚至全世界的广泛批评。

5 smoldering   

v.用文火焖烧，熏烧，慢燃( smolder的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The mat was smoldering where the burning log had fallen. 燃烧的木棒落下的地方垫子慢慢燃烧起来。 来自辞典例句
• The wood was smoldering in the fireplace. 木柴在壁炉中闷烧。 来自辞典例句

6 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

7 rotation   

n.旋转；循环，轮流

参考例句：

• Crop rotation helps prevent soil erosion.农作物轮作有助于防止水土流失。
• The workers in this workshop do day and night shifts in weekly rotation.这个车间的工人上白班和上夜班每周轮换一次。

8 dedications   

奉献( dedication的名词复数 )； 献身精神； 教堂的)献堂礼； （书等作品上的）题词

参考例句：

9 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。