VOA慢速英语2014 印尼人抗议燃料价格飙升
时间：2019-01-12 作者：英语课 分类：2014年VOA慢速英语(十一)月
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 subsidies 1. 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 opposition 2 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 transit 3 agency. He says a number of military and government vehicles have been deployed 4 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.”
Demonstrations 5 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
subsidy 6 – 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
- 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》
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。