Might there be any lessons from the Hungarian Uprising where there was a short lived popular revolt against a repressive regime...with support &encouragement from the West...with dire consequences,indeed.
2
bun_cha
And now (after >30 years of oppression 1956-1989), Hungary is doing very well by most accounts - as a democracy, free market economy and member of the EU ... is that part of the lesson you take from these completely different situations?
bun cha
3
phildell
Certainly completely different situations....but,in my opinion,potentially similar immediate consequences. NGO's are pulling thier staff out of Burma,donor countries are re=evaluating thier contributions and of course the loss of life and increased oppression from the entrenched regime. These tragic consequences should partially be laid on the doorstep of Western idealists who,as in Hungary,encouraged confrontation in a power imbalanced untimely situation in the most simple minded fashion.
4
rinconbay
I believe the protests were more spontaneous and the monks had had enough. If you know of some "Western idealists" who were encouraging confrontation, please name them.
The monks were aware of the great suffering and acted according to their conscience. Remember initially there were asking for an apology from the government.
NGO's are often times forced to leave Burma by the military junta when there are no protests going on. It is very difficult for NGO's to operate there. That's why many are on the border in Thailand. So far no donor countries have changed their contributions, even Japan whose reporter was murdered by the junta. Lets blame the responsible party and that is the illegitimate government of the junta.
5
phildell
".....the monks had had enough." Oh,I see...those darn Monks with short fuses!
Names might include those who say such things as:FREE BURMA---BOYCOTT BEIJING OLYMPICS and thier ilk.
The Burmese Sangha most certainly does not speak with one voice and it's delusional to clump them all in one ideolgical camp.
My understanding is that NGO's were pulling out thier employees by thier own volition..for obvious safety reasons.
And my reading is that Japan IS re-evaluating it's committments to Burma.
And I agreee the Junta is becoming a more pure form of dicatiorship.
6
bun_cha
Oh, those western idealists.
Is it the "simple minded" UN? US? The Guardian? Aung San Suu Kyi's supporters in San Francisco? Clinton? Bush? Billy Graham? Bruce Springsteen? Hillary Clinton? Ollie North? CIA? Yeltsin? John Howard? FOX News? NYT? Wall Street Journal? ono? utom? I Like Ike? JFK? littlegreenfootballs? Yeah, quite a rogues gallery you have there - pretty complex thinking.
bun cha
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