violent in suppressing riots is unavoidable. happens in all countries. it is just a matter of whether it is well publicise and the international biasness.
after the 911 attack, the USA allows the bin Laden family to leave the USA on a private jet, while they go around detaining innocent muslims, in some cases, up to 1 year, without being tried.
in France, when the countries muslim youths riot, the sent in the riot police. the government also imposed a crackdown on the riots. people were also killed by stray tear pellets. tear pellets doesn't gurantee 0% mortality rate, you have to know.
yes, there are some beatings, but at least they didn't send in the tanks or to fire on the opposition. it would certainly squash the revolt, albeit international condemnation. but who cares about what other thinks if they are in dire straits themselves?
so far, it appears that the riot subdueing tactics used are very standard, used in riot control all over the world.
the world is a "yes-man", blindly following the US's stance, a country ruled by Bush.... that is craziness. they keep asking myanmar to adopt a more peaceful solution to quell the riots.
take note take we are talking about riots, and potential revolts, not simply a protest against rising prices... any government would carry out extreme actions, or else, they will be in danger of being toppled down.
so, can anyone suggest a more peaceful solution which will not involve a immediately change of regime? impossible.
i think it is better to have one poor myanmar, instead of 10 poor and small myanmars. thailand is already having problems with its malay population. imagine what will happen in myanmar, having more ethnic groupings than thailand, if the junta collapses?the pro democracy forces lack a strong army, therefore in the case in which they really do topple the junta, they cannot impose their control over these non-burmese territorities. the power vaccuum will lead to bloody territorial civil war, which is certainly more violent that the crackdown on the riot.
look at africa for an example.without a stong military to hold on to the territory, warring factions will emerge to fight for control. the resultant civil wars will adversely affect the region's stability.
Examples:
Indonesia after Suharto.
Yugoslavia after Tito.
Philippines after Marcos.
Iraq after Saddam.
To champion for freedom is noble.
But there must be responsibility.
Many champion for the sake of championing.
And leave dire consequences.
And dissappear.