The situation in Myanmar has become ugly as the country's security forces mount a violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrators. Already more than a dozen people have died, including Buddhist monks and a Japanese journalist. It is the first such shedding of blood since prodemocracy demonstrations in 1988, when more than 1,000 people were killed.
The country's military junta should immediately end its violent response to the protests and start talks with opposition forces as a first step toward returning the country to democracy. The international community, including Japan, should unite in efforts to prevent the violence from escalating.
Security forces started clubbing and tear-gassing demonstrators and firing warning shots on Wednesday. On that day, at least four people, including three monks, were reported killed; 100 others were injured, and 200 to 300 people were arrested in Yangon, the biggest city in Myanmar. The continuing crackdown has led to more deaths, injured and arrests.