In Algeria, Popular Protests Still Simmer Beneath Surface
时间:2019-01-14 作者:英语课 分类:VOA标准英语2011年(三月)
Algeria is simmering with the same toxic 1 mix of economic and political discontent that has exploded into revolts across the Arab world. But another effort to stage an anti-government protest in front of the main post office in downtown Algiers failed.
Frustrated 2 youth
It was announced on Facebook as a youth march that would rally thousands. But only a few dozen showed up, quickly dispersed 3 by riot police who easily outnumbered them.
Nalia Hamish, 31, vented 4 her frustration 5. She said every time the protesters try to gather, the police break them up. They want the freedom to express themselves politically - starting with the right to protest.
Simmering anger
A huge outpouring of public anger toppled the presidents in neighboring Tunisia and Egypt this year. Public protests have shaken Bahrain, Yemen, Jordan, Syria, Lybia and Morocco, forcing some governments to promise reforms and others to crack down brutally 6.
There is anger here too - against Algeria's authoritarian 7 government, the lack of jobs and perceived corruption 8. It drove 30-year-old Tariq, who works in marketing 9, to participate in the Facebook protest.
Tariq says protesters want the end of corruption, repression 10 and theft by the state. They want a better distribution of wealth in oil-rich Algeria and for the government to respond to demands by the country's youth, who make up the vast majority of the population.
Protests fail to coalesce 11
Riots over high food prices killed five and injured roughly 800 people here in January. Since then, a hodgepodge of demonstrations 12 have mushroomed around the country - by teachers, students, the unemployed 13 and pro-democracy activists 14. But they have failed to coalesce into a broad-based movement for change.
Few people attend the weekly protests staged by a newly-formed umbrella group known as the National Coordination 15 for Change and Democracy. Those who do are vastly outnumbered by police.
Said Saadi, head of the opposition 16 RCD party, is part of the movement. Saadi believes the disparate protests will eventually coalesce into a powerful movement that will either force political change peacefully or explode into violence.
But many here are afraid of more violence. They are haunted by the 1990s, when a small democratic opening spiralled into civil war after the government cancelled legislative 17 elections that the opposition Islamic Salvation 18 Front party appeared poised 19 to win. More than 100,000 Algerians were killed and tens of thousands disappeared during the so-called "black decade."
Ghania Lassal, a journalist at the leading, independent El Watan newspaper, believes that while Algerians want change and democracy, they aren't ready to give their time and energy - and blood if necessary - to fight for it.
Reforms promised
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has promised reforms. In February, he lifted a 19-year-old state of emergency. But a ban against protesting in the capital remains 20 in place.
In an interview, Communications Minister Nacer Mahel described major efforts by the government to improve the country's infrastructure 21, create housing and boost employment. Mahel said more must be done in every sector 22. He said it was important to listen to Algeria's young people and their demands. But Mahel also noted 23 Algeria enjoys a number of freedoms, including a vibrant 24 press.
Still, there are cracks in the ruling establishment. The vice 25 president of Algeria's upper house of parliament has strongly criticized the government for failing to improve the lives of ordinary people. One of the former heads of the ruling FLN party, Abdelhamid Mehri, has lambasted the government for being incapable 26 of addressing the "major problems" of the nation.
Journalist Lassal believes the regime is afraid. Algeria may not be Tunisia or Egypt, but the government is aware that the simmering popular discontent could explode into something much bigger.
- The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
- There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。
- It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
- The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The clouds dispersed themselves. 云散了。
- After school the children dispersed to their homes. 放学后,孩子们四散回家了。
- He vented his frustration on his wife. 他受到挫折却把气发泄到妻子身上。
- He vented his anger on his secretary. 他朝秘书发泄怒气。
- He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
- He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。
- The uprising was brutally put down.起义被残酷地镇压下去了。
- A pro-democracy uprising was brutally suppressed.一场争取民主的起义被残酷镇压了。
- Foreign diplomats suspect him of authoritarian tendencies.各国外交官怀疑他有着独裁主义倾向。
- The authoritarian policy wasn't proved to be a success.独裁主义的政策证明并不成功。
- The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
- The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。
- They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
- He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。
- The repression of your true feelings is harmful to your health.压抑你的真实感情有害健康。
- This touched off a new storm against violent repression.这引起了反对暴力镇压的新风暴。
- And these rings of gas would then eventually coalesce and form the planets.这些气体环最后终于凝结形成行星。
- They will probably collide again and again until they coalesce.他们可能会一次又一次地发生碰撞,直到他们合并。
- 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。
- There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
- The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。
- 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》
- 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。
- 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。
- Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
- Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。
- Salvation lay in political reform.解救办法在于政治改革。
- Christians hope and pray for salvation.基督教徒希望并祈祷灵魂得救。
- The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋,准备俯冲。
- Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张,手悬在电话机上。
- 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。
- We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
- We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设,发展各类群众文化。
- The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
- The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。
- The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
- Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
- He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
- She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。
- He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
- They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。