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| Saturday, 3 July 2004 |
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Role of civil society in S. Asian armed conflict prevention The India National Meeting on 'The Role of Civil Society in the Prevention of Armed Conflicts in South Asia', organised by the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS) in collaboration with the European Centre for Conflict Prevention (ECCP) as part of the programme on Global Partnership for Prevention of Armed Conflicts (GPAC), was held at the Kohinoor Park Hotel, Mumbai, India, January 18-19, 2004. An interactive session was also organised by RCSS on the grounds of the World Social Forum to familiarise other participants at the forum with the programme.
He emphasised that research is one of the most important components of this exercise which has to be expanded in the direction of understanding of what works best, which programmes are useful, and what are the lessons learnt, and what are the best practices. It will make possible, he explained, to bring out research publications periodically, and to develop a system, whereby perhaps every two or three years, newsletters outlining short descriptions of the work accomplished and the dynamics involved in the conflict prevention process, which could provide publicity to the programme activities. He held out the hope that when some literature based on these experiences can be distributed to the key people in the world dealing with conflicts, and these will then go into the like-minded civil servants of the UN, thereby presenting our case more clearly to international audiences. Action agenda Dr. Van Tongeren concluded his speech by saying that "it is one thing to convene a conference where you will have prepared speeches and reports, but quite another to disseminate information on practical recommendations and to develop a regional action agendas. We in Europe have asked Catherine Barnes to prepare a number of books on lessons learnt from peace processes all over the world, and, in particular, do a piece of writing on elements of an action agenda for Western European Initiatives. She has, already, prepared a four paged draft - Western European Action Agenda. We have asked the other regions to do a similar job in respect of their regions. All these action agendas are to be discussed at the Dublin Conference, and will then go to Brussels, and also later to New York." Next to speak was, Vasu Vaitla, a representative of Initiative of Change, who based his contribution to the theme: "How can the UN system be influenced?" He went on to say that, although, a lot has been done on conflict prevention during the last ten years or so, there still remains a tendency to restart the process again, again, and again and not to take the process forward. The trend has been to add regional nuances and the regional best practices to this programme. On this issue, there are not less than four studies at UN currently, attempting to give a definition to civil society, i.e. by the Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS), the Department of Social Affairs, UNDP and Eminent Persons' Panel. Issues differ Maria de la Fonte of Japanese Peace Group dealt with the importance of identifying regional differences and getting the academic community and social workers together, in Conflict Prevention. With her experiences, by working in Japan with students and attending meetings in Soesterberg, Philippines and Tokyo on this issue, she emphasised the fact that the nature of the issues differ from region to region. Sridhar K. Khatri, Executive Director, of RCSS, outlined the work already accomplished and attempts at defining the terms being used, in this field, and said that at Marawila the consensus was, for example, to exclude what is, 'not civil society', when defining what 'Civil Society' is, and 'Armed Conflict' was defined as 'contestation between collectives in which armed violence is used as an instrument for producing an outcome'. At Marawila the issues prevailing in South Asia were prioritized and now the need is to address these objectively. O. P. Shah of Centre for Peace Progress, stressed the value of lessening human suffering when dealing with conflict prevention issues. Building consensus among conflicting parties, bringing them to talk to each other, bring about reconciliation, demonstrating sincerity of purpose is necessary to achieve results, he said. Women's role Vijayalakshmi of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, spoke of the need to draw women into civil society's role in Conflict Prevention. When the perceptions on security issues are broadening, when the need for inspiring trust, transparency, accommodating viewpoints, and non-partisanship is becoming, important, women's role has become paramount. Experiences like Naga Mothers' Association and the Association of Parents for Disappearing People show their significance. Women had been an inclusive group in conflict situations in South Asia, but the whole conflict discourse had been male oriented; from the commencement of military conflicts up to the peace processes women had been marginalised. Even the UN resolutions 1325 and 1366 had not helped women to play an active role in conflict situations; this should be corrected by including them in the processes, forming groups like daughters of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, and making constitutional provisions, for political participation of women at local, national, and regional levels, and also peace processes. Role of religion Yoginder Singh Sikandh of the International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern World in his presentation outlined the role of religion in conflict prevention methodologies especially in India. The Kashmir Issue, for example, although, projected as an Islamic Issue dominated by extremists of Sufi faith, there are moderate Muslims in other parts of India who want Kashmir taken out of an Islamic prism, and treat it as a national issue. They could be organised to influence Kashmiri Muslims, which will also, neutralise extremist Hindu groups like RSS who use it as a Islamic issue. Similarly, alternative Hindu groups and groups from other religious faiths should be called into the resolution of this conflict. Noor Baba, of Kashmir University, reflecting on the Kashmir issue said that civil society comprising the sum total of people informally or formally, organised, has not been used in India. For example, when in 1987 elections, people who took to violence participated in elections, they were punished whereas, they should have been rewarded. Both in and out of Kashmir civil society did not attempt to infuse concepts such as freedom, democracy and federalism as tools which could have been used to meet such situations, and resolve this problem. Indian civil society should intervene in the Kashmir situation, both when it is violent and also peaceful, to rehabilitate resettle and reintegrate people. Reposed the blame Gul Wani. University of Kashmir reposed the blame for the exacerbation of Kashmir problem on the State. From the time of Nehru, not enough was done to establish civil society, free elections and economic reforms, until militancy took over. Nehru once said that democracy does not flourish in Kashmir, because, soil is not fertile for it. Sheikh Abdulla once remarked, that Indian democracy stops at Patanpur, and a journalist said that Indian democracy has a problem with Kashmir because it never travels by bus. Basically, the conflict is between national interest of Kashmir and party politics of India civil society too is sandwiched between Government and the militants. However, after, the Islambad SAARC Summit, initiatives could be taken like opening conflict resolution centers in universities, in Jammu and Kashmir and restoration of Kashmir Identity; for example, Kashmir Pundits now called themselves Kashmiri Hindus, as against Kashmir Muslims, whereas both groups are Kashmiris. Two examples of mutual concern, cited are of, Kashmiri Muslims renovating a Hindu Temple during Amarnath yatra and Kashmiri Pundit Prakash intervening in securing the acquittal of Delhi University's Rahman Gilani. He referred to Sri Lankan Minister Lakshman Kadiragamar's statement that future of South Asia lies with India and said that, he, too, endorses it. Various demands Wasbir Hussain of The Sentinel. Guwahati, dealing with the North-east scenario, outlined the various demands of the 30 insurgent groups, spearheaded by the Naga rebels, Assamese, Manipuris, Tripuris, their demands ranging from secession, autonomy, to self-determination. The attempts by the Government for talks through a mix of political and military means have not been positive, but the question now hinges on whether the Government will agree to ULFA demands of a presence of a third party supervision and a venue outside India. In any negotiations, the role of the Church is important, for example, in Nagaland, where the Christian population is 90 percent; the women, as represented by the Naga Mothers' Association formed in 1984, have assumed a peace making role by being in the legislature. On the contrary in Assam the rebel movement which started 30 years after that in Nagaland, the situation is worse as there is no credible or structured civil society. Being a multi-religious society, even a religious institution has not got much of a say. Civil Society It is necessary, therefore, to build civil society structures, identify and train peace makers in this region. Ajrimand Hussain, Director, United Mission Foundation, analyzing the role of civil society in the Prevention of Armed Conflict in India and Kashmir, said, that people should be empowered to prevent armed conflict. In addition the governing circles should reach out to the marginalized and vulnerable groups of society, without political bias, in reducing a conflict situation. In the ensuing discussion, the participants arrived at a consensus that conflict situations differ from one another, and the application of one solution will not suit another. The different civil society groups should analyze these placing them in the correct perspective gathering the support of all segments of the society. (Courtesy - the Newsletters of the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies, Colombo, April 2004 ) ###### Patriotism - Its true meaning In Thomas Hardy's words, "Patriotism, if aggressive and at the expense of other countries (or religions, races and so on-author's remarks) is a vice, if in sympathy with them, a virtue". by Laksiri Warnakula
Its true patriotic leadership in governance, in no uncertain terms and manner set examples by deeds rather than talk, and have guided their country to present day development. Japan, the victim of two atom bomb blasts and a devastated, defeated nation in mid-forties came out of the ashes, because its people in a magnificent display of real patriotism took the bull by the horns and fought the hellish destruction and today it is one of the most industrialized and developed nations in the world. Just a few instances of what, people driven by true patriotism and guided by determined and genuine patriotic leaders have been able to achieve. Among its many and varied manifestations are also those, that are entirely not sincere and even extremely destructive. And some masquerading as patriots often try to strengthen it by appealing to the masses, on issues on religion, race and even politics, and present them with twisted realities, all in the hope of prompting unsuspecting populace to act irresponsibly and sometimes even inhumanely. Misguided It was this misguided patriotism, which has apparently pushed people to do extreme evil too. History of mankind is stained with many heinous crimes, all perpetrated by people brainwashed in warped political philosophies and propaganda, disguised as patriotism. The Nazis, guided by their National Socialism murdered millions of Jewish people in concentration camps or mass murders in the African continent where, peoples of different tongues and religious beliefs, set upon one another by leaderships of satanic qualities, shouting for revenge cleverly masked in slogans of patriotism and as a result, hundreds of thousands were killed. In Yugoslavia, some, though nearly all of them Slavs, still thought it fit to kill and torment many of their ethnically related neighbours, in the name of patriotism and religion. And there is no former self of Yugoslavia any more, only a small number of nations, all diminished in size and resources, now at the end of their tether, bordering on poverty with many of its people forced to leave and seek refuge in other countries. Some examples and their consequences of what misguided patriotism has led people to do. In Sri Lanka We, in Sri Lanka also have had our share of what has been done in the name of patriotism, many, we can be really proud of and some, we should be really ashamed of. From the epic battle of King Dutugemunu to our armed forces fighting the terrorism in North and East, our history is colourfully decorated with many episodes of gallantry and sacrifice in which, our ancestors and heroic sons and daughters of our land have displayed the remarkable spirit of true patriotism. However, incidents like "83-July", speak of misguided patriotism, where many people played the role of proverbial cat's-paw, deviously manipulated by a handful bent on achieving their petty political objectives. It brought disgrace to our nation and destruction to innocent lives and property while, a few more of crooked conscience used the opportunity to fish happily in troubled waters, the saddest part being, also in the name of patriotism. Historical evidence There is ample historical evidence to suggest that, behind every such event, good or evil, there was always a guiding force, and the people were skillfully manoeuvred or indoctrinated as the case may be, with a major issue such as patriotism at the core, to achieve the desired objective. Patriotism is extremely prone to manipulation and is highly inflammable too. If it is not understood in its true sense by people or not preached in the context of sincerity of purpose and true meaning, it could lead a nation to self-destruction. It is also capable of sparking off civil or even global conflagrations of such dimensions, potent enough to ultimately devour anything, even whole nations or populations. The most important lesson for us in all above is that we must never allow ourselves to be used as tools to help further the sinister motives of some, who, armed with such issues like patriotism, that are capable of arousing intense public sentiment, lie in wait for the right time and circumstances to mislead us. And we as true patriots must think long and deep before the jump, if we are going to jump at all. Simpler ways And, there are simpler ways that are also highly beneficial to the growth of our nation, to show our real patriotism. If we, try to do our best at work and not try to cheat on time, do not make unreasonable demands from our employers, public or private and try to find shelter in unions or hold innocent public to ransom, do dispose of our garbage properly and, definitely not on the road side, for it to rot and become a health hazard for the public, do not leave taps of municipal water lines open after use or not try to get rid of them all together, declare our income honestly and pay our taxes and dues to the government accordingly and not try to juggle the figures to hide our true earnings, can fight the temptation to bribe someone to get certain things done and instead follow the standard procedures; these are just a very few and varied in nature, among many more of such ways. Little effort and concern With just a little effort and real concern for the land of our birth, I am sure, we are capable of doing all this and a lot more, which undoubtedly would, in not so distant future, make our nation so strong, prosperous and corrupt-free that, we would be able to stand up to any threat or adversary and many of our loved ones need not be slavering, labouring or playing second fiddle in other countries as they are now, provided that our politicians play their part too, in a genuinely patriotic manner. We would not be a pauper any more in the eyes of the rest of the world and it will be the greatest of all tributes, that we can pay to our ancestors, who have given us our glorious heritage. Is this not a much better, wiser and safer way to show our true patriotism than needless and hurried rallies of protests and crying wolf even at the drop of a hat and the silence of seeming indifference that often follows? |
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It was true patriotism that drove Hitler out of Russia, and made it
possible for England to come out victorious in the Battle of Britain,
against all odds, when many at the time, friend and foe alike, hastened to
proclaim that the defeat was inevitable for the defenders. It is also why
Singapore is what it is today.
