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FOR ASIA
AŌer a short handing over ceremony of hosƟng (from • Quest for Peace: Responses to Survival, Nasir Udin,
Philippines to Nepal to Cambodia), Soth Plai Ngarm, a board Bangladesh
member of ACT and founding-member of AcƟon Asia, • An AƩempt at Peace Making, Alan Saw U, Myanmar
oĸcially welcomed the parƟcipants on behalf of the host • TransformaƟon of the Self – Journeying for Peace in
organizaƟon Alliance for Conict TransformaƟon (ACT). The Manipur and the North-east, Bobichand Rajkumar Meitei,
dancers from Sunrise Children’s Villages entertained the Manipur, India
group with at least 5 tradiƟonal Khmer dances before the • The Inner Struggle of Living Out Nonviolence, Beng
welcome dinner. Dionela, Philippines
• Not Everything Can Be Green, Sushi Gobalkrishnan, Sri
On the formal opening of the Forum Dekha Ibrahim, AcƟon Lanka
member from Kenya and CPCS Board Chairperson gave the • We Drink from our Inner Well, Bijay Singh, Orissa, India
keynote speech on her own experience of transforming her • Our Wounds Have Strengthened Our Resolve in Building
violent experience to peace. Peace, Philippines
• The Role of Women in Sustaining Peace in Poso-Central
The second day of the Forum was spent for exposure visits Sulawasi Indonesia, Ruby Kholifah, Indonesia
• Burmese Doll, the Reason for Resiliency, Fr. Chris Raj, REFLECTING ON PEACE PRACTICE ΈRPPΉ
Myanmar
• We Can Do It If We Believe We Can, Meas Sokeo, Cambodia RPP is an experience-based learning process that involves
• Linking My Inner Journey to the Outside World, Sagun agencies whose programs aƩempt to prevent or miƟgate
Basnyet, Nepal violent conict. Its purpose is to analyze experience at
• A Local Experience of Building Acehnese Women’s the individual program level across a broad range of
Network for Peace, Tabrani Yunis, Aceh contexts, with the goal to improve the eīecƟveness of
• Peacebuilding in PoliƟcs, Kassapa Diyabedanage, Sri Lanka internaƟonal peacebuilding eīorts. It is both a framework
• Peacebuilding and My Insights, Nao Sok, Cambodia and a methodology, designed to evaluate the eīecƟveness
• Building Peace Through Sustainable Development, Ashok of diīerent peace programs with specic reference to the
Gladston Xavier, India context or culture in which it operates. CPCS feels very
strongly that the RPP methodology oīers a framework to
The team of our host-organizaƟon did a marvelous job of assess impact and evaluate strategic intervenƟon.
making all parƟcipants felt warmly welcomed, exposed
to the Khmer culture, tradiƟon and historical sites, and Advanced RPP Workshop, Nepal
most importantly helped made the Forum a meaningful
experience for everyone. In May 2010, CPCS held an advanced training course on
RPP methodology for AcƟon Asia members in Kathmandu,
Global members sent their solidarity messages which were Nepal. The workshop was sponsored by CDA CollaboraƟve
10 printed out and shared with the group. Learning Projects and facilitated by Peter Woodrow and
Diana Chiagas, the co-directors of RPP programme at CDA.
The Forum was another opportunity for AcƟon Asia The program was available only to parƟcipants who had
members to share experiences, learning and success stories completed two prior introductory courses in Nepal and
in the pursuit of peace as well as nurture relaƟonships, Kuala Lumpur. The workshop sought to introduce new, more
revitalize and strengthen commitment to peace. advanced tools for project evaluaƟon and systems thinking
analysis within the framework of the RPP;
a cuƫng edge model at the forefront of
scienƟc appraisal for peacebuilding and
conict related projects.
EXPOSURE VISIT
From 25 to 30 March, the Centre for Peace and Conict
CPCS hosted fourteen women from 11 diīerent organizaƟons Studies hosted a visit from TRANSCEND-Japan members.
belonging to a women’s network in Myanmar who came for The exposure visit sought to raise the levels of awareness
an exposure visit to Cambodia. The purpose of said visit was and knowledge of Japan’s involvement in Cambodia’s
for these women to learn from Cambodia’s experience on diverse history; most notably in the years of 1941-1945,
peacebuilding work and networking strategies. They visited when the Empire of Japan occupied the country, and how
various women and youth organizaƟons as well as nonviolent that history has or may have shaped the current situaƟon in
communiƟes in Koh Kong province. Cambodia.
During this September visit, the women also had the The group visited various historical sites, such as Toul Sleng
chance to dialogue with organizaƟons who are involved in Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields, as well as Angkor
the elecƟon processes in Cambodia including the NaƟonal Wat. ParƟcipants expressed a keen interest in learning more
ElecƟon Commission. The women’s network wanted to about the current situaƟon in Cambodia and discussed
gain some ideas on how they can engage in the upcoming intenƟons to send another group to Cambodia, this Ɵme
Myanmar elecƟon. focusing on youth parƟcipants. The visit was considered to
be an expression of solidarity between Japan and Cambodia,
and furthermore, between East Asia and Southeast Asia.
COUNTRY PROGRAMS
MYANMAR
Preparing Myanmar Civil Society for
ElecƟons
One workshop parƟcipant, when comparing the situaƟon In June, CPCS conducted an evaluaƟon of its AcƟon Asia
in Cambodia to Myanmar, said, “There are many chances Myanmar programme using the ReecƟng on Peace PracƟce
to parƟcipate in the electoral process in Cambodia, which is (RPP) framework. Two AcƟon Asia members, Charmaine
diīerent from those in Myanmar. But what we can do is to Baconga from Philippines and Fernando da Costa from
network and try to create and provide space for the other Timor Leste evaluated the programme, and were assisted
civil society groups to come together and do something.” by two CPCS staī. The evaluators interviewed a variety of
parƟcipants in the programme, including those involved in
Two resource people from Cambodia facilitated the training, the programme’s incepƟon from 1999-2010.
Koul Panha of COMFREL and Ok Serei Sopheak of COPCEL,
The following are some important recommendaƟons The Conict TransformaƟon course has been operaƟng in
submiƩed by the evaluators: Myanmar since 2008. In 2010, the course brought together
25 parƟcipants from diīerent civil society organisaƟons.
• Organize a strategic planning for Myanmar Program to This is the third batch of students to go through the course,
be parƟcipated in by AcƟon Asia members in the country which began the rst module in September.
and strengthen commitment of members in becoming
strategic partners to run and manage the Myanmar Lobbying and Advocacy Tour
program
• ConƟnue the conduct of the Conict TransformaƟon Research inside Myanmar is no mean feat, and yet not
Course and more engagement in civic educaƟon impossible. The value of such research to the internaƟonal
• ConƟnue exposure program in other countries and community and those who shape Myanmar related policy
cultures is invaluable. In 2010, through a wide network of partners
• ConƟnue lobbying on issues within the region and and individuals across Myanmar, built up over ten years,
internaƟonal agencies CPCS was able to produce three publicaƟons raising the
• Strengthen networking and acƟve parƟcipaƟon in the voices of people most directly aīected by those policies.
INGO’s and local NGO’s forum and increase scope of PublicaƟons include Listening to Voices from Inside – Ethnic
partnership with other sectors People Speak and Listening to Voices from Inside – People’s
• Linking peace building and economics PerspecƟves on Myanmar’s 2010 ElecƟon.
• Establish an alternaƟve informaƟon disseminaƟon
mechanism. While documenƟng evidence and opinion from the ground 13
is important, it only has meaning when it is in the hands of
Modular Course on Conict TransformaƟon those who can make a diīerence. While debate conƟnues
to rage about which country or internaƟonal mechanism has
The Conict TransformaƟon Course aims to raise the level the most leverage in Myanmar, CPCS conƟnued its mission
of awareness and commitment of Myanmar civil society to beƩer equip the internaƟonal actors to make informed
members in building a posiƟve peace. UƟlising the Centre’s policy choices.
exisƟng networks in Myanmar, the course brings together
various members from key civil society organisaƟons for Consequently delegaƟons of Myanmar civil society leaders
a four module course that explores the foundaƟons of along with CPCS Director, Emma Leslie visited New York
conict transformaƟon and peacebuilding, and how to focusing on the United NaƟons missions; Washington
pracƟcally and strategically apply peacebuilding in the eld. focusing on Congress and the State department; London,
Each module lasts six days and builds oī from previous Dublin and Amsterdam focusing on members of parliament,
modules through experienƟal learning, where parƟcipants’ civil servants and ministries of foreign aīairs; Beijing focusing
experiences and knowledge acquired during the course on media, university think tanks and inuenƟal individuals
becomes a “living textbook” for the parƟcipant to draw in the Myanmar China relaƟonship; Bangkok focusing on the
from, thereby increasing individual capacity to acƟvely Ministry of Foreign Aīairs and culminaƟng with a seminar
relate and apply abstract theories and concepts to real-life in Singapore with the InsƟtute of South East Studies. While
situaƟons. a whirlwind approach to global lobbying the linkages,
relaƟonships and networks built through these visits have
started to prove criƟcal. Feedback from policy makers has CPCS will provide more capacity-building projects in the
shown increases in humanitarian assistance to Myanmar, coming months including a workshop on RPP to the NGO
more nuanced diplomacy and a greater understanding of leaders, another cycle of modular course on Conict
China’s complex poliƟcal role in Myanmar. TransformaƟon and Peacebuilding and Peace Research
Methodology workshop.
Realising this global approach is unsustainable, CPCS hosted
a meeƟng of like minded organisaƟons also engaged in MANIPUR, INDIA
promoƟng perspecƟves from inside Myanmar in the global
arena. That meeƟng helpfully aligned such eīorts and in Emma Leslie, Ramji Neupane and Tulsi Nepal conducted
2011 CPCS will focus its advocacy primarily in Asia with a conict analysis and needs assessment in Manipur in
special aƩenƟon on ASEAN, India and China. CPCS is also September 2010 aŌer several aƩempts of arranging such
intending to work more strategically with media, realising visit because of the long and bureaucraƟc process to obtain
that it is signicant in shaping public opinion in Asia. Protected Area Permission to enter into Manipur. The visit
ORISSA, INDIA
The Conict TransformaƟon and Peacebuilding
Course in Orissa works with the same ideals as
the parallel course in Myanmar described above.
14 Via the use of exisƟng networks in India, the
four module program brings key members of
civil society organisaƟons together to explore
the foundaƟons of conict transformaƟon, and
how to apply strategic frameworks and theory to
pracƟcal peacebuilding iniƟaƟves in the eld.
The course graduated its rst year of students on 20 April concluded that the local organizaƟons striving for peace in
2010 in Kathmandu, Nepal aŌer the exposure visit and Manipur are in need of outsiders like AcƟon Asia primarily
module 4 with 25 individuals who fully parƟcipants in all to help in bringing together various organizaƟons to a
4 modules. AŌer the training, they have re-vitalized their common forum and analyze the situaƟon that potenƟally
network (where there are 12 NGOs) that was formed leads to some collecƟve iniƟaƟves. During our visit,
during Kandhmal conict in 2008. All the parƟcipants have many of the organizaƟons and individuals proposed us to
drawn up an acƟon plan for their individual organizaƟon. support conducƟng the following acƟviƟes: conict analysis
Mostly, they have planned to analyze the conict in integraƟng with the ReecƟng on Peace PracƟce framework;
their working area and to start taking iniƟaƟves with the Peace Journalism; Peace Research Methodology; and,
communiƟes they work by forming community level peace documentaƟon of peace iniƟaƟves that people have
commiƩees. SFDC is coordinaƟng among the network undertaken.
members.
If these peace iniƟaƟves will be materialized in
near future, it was agreed that CPCS will partner
with CPA (Change and Peacebuilding AcƟon)
and the Department of Manipur Studies Centre
under the Manipur University. However, all other
peacebuilding organizaƟons would be involved in
these acƟviƟes iniƟally sending their parƟcipants
and ulƟmately the bigger group could become
a Strategy and Analysis Group in Manipur. All
the people we met have acknowledged this
approach.
SRI LANKA their own model of civil society led, community driven
mediaƟon.
When the AcƟon Asia network was formed one of its main
missions was to develop links between Asian peace builders While recognising that one model cannot neatly t into
so they can rely on each other for resources, models, the context of another, the sharing of experience gave Sri
frameworks and inspiraƟon. It was in this vane that Kaloy Lankan peace workers, weary from the recent transiƟon
Manlupig, President of Balay Mindanao, and independent in their conict, fresh ideas and inspiraƟon for their work.
secretariat of the GRP and his colleagues Franklin Quijano Through dialoguing on another context parƟcipants were 15
(former government negoƟator) and the negoƟator for the able to consider how they might re-align their eīorts in
RevoluƟonary Worker’s Party - Mindanao visited Sri Lanka the new Sri Lanka context of post war, but far from post
twice in early 2010. On both occasions, at the request of conict.
local partners and networks, oīered workshops showcasing
Owing to increased visa and travel restricƟons for Sri
Lankans around the region, the
possibility for parƟcipaƟon in
courses on ReecƟng on Peace
PracƟce Methodology in Nepal
and Indonesia was denied.
Consequently in late December,
CPCS rallied Sri Lankan AcƟon
Asia members for their own
workshop in RPP methodology.
CPCS through AcƟon Asia
conƟnues to seek ways to support
its Sri Lankan membership in this
newly restricted context.
CONSULTANCIES
DO NO HARM CONSULTATION
From 22nd March to 2nd April, CPCS hosted a ‘Do No Harm
ConsultaƟon’. The purpose of the event was for CDA to
beƩer understand the ways in which NGOs in Cambodia
understand and apply the concept of ‘Do No Harm’ in 17
From June to mid-October Ohnmar joined CPCS as intern Molika is another Cambodian
for Myanmar Programme acƟviƟes and her rst task who is nishing her university
was to assist in the evaluaƟon of AcƟon Asia’s Myanmar course on InternaƟonal
Programme. She then organized the exposure visit to RelaƟons at the Pannassastra
Cambodia of the women’s network from Myanmar during University. Molika was with
the last two weeks of September. Ohnmar is currently CPCS from mid-September
pursuing her Masters Degree in InternaƟonal Peace unƟl end of January 2011. She
Studies at the University for Peace. She also parƟcipated assisted in the exposure visit of
in a modular course on Conict TransformaƟon and Myanmar Women’s Network
Peacebuilding which was given in Myanmar few years last September, supported
ago. Prior to this she worked with Swissaid Myanmar in organizing the AcƟon Asia
Programme, rst as an AdministraƟve Oĸcer and Peacebuilders’ Forum last October in Siem Reap, and helped
Coordinator for Gender PromoƟon then became the in preparing and guiding the exposure visit of parƟcipants
organizaƟon’s Program Oĸcer. from Myanmar on the Modular Course on Conict
TransformaƟon. CPCS agreed to support the Pannasastra
University-Cambodia internship program by receiving two
interns a year.
19
CPCS PARTNERS
A total of 87 people were interviewed for this research, represenƟng the eight major
ethnic groups in Myanmar: Bamar, Chin, Kachin, Karen, Kayah, Mon, Rakhine and Shan.
20 Their voices highlight the centrality of “the ethnic issue” in the Myanmar conict,
arguing that it is a fundamental conict dynamic that must be beƩer understood by
both domesƟc Myanmar civil society as well as the internaƟonal community if posiƟve change is to be actualized in Myanmar.
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22
23
CPCS Staī
(front row from leŌ) Chea
Sophiep, Dara Pichmolika, Delia
Maria Davila Illescas, Baht
Latumbo, Sem Tola Sreypeou, Um
Sotheavy; (back row from leŌ)
Mark Channsitha, Monica Alfred,
Mark Satvansay, Tulsi Nepal,
Chhit Maria, Emma Leslie
The Centre for Peace and Conict Studies is home
to a range of interconnected programmes that
promote the advancement of peace processes,
research and learning. It creates opportuniƟes for
pracƟƟoners, students, academics and analysts to
access informaƟon and resources that are
contextually grounded.
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