Conflict Trends, Issue 4 (2009)
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CONTENTS EDITORIAL 2 by Vasu Gounden FEATURES 3 Paramilitary Groups and National Security: A Comparison Between Colombia and Sudan by Jerónimo Delgådo Caicedo 13 The Path to Economic and Political Emancipation in Sri Lanka by Muttukrishna Sarvananthan 23 Symbiosis of Peace and Development in Kashmir: An Imperative for Conflict Transformation by Debidatta Aurobinda Mahapatra 31 Conflict Induced Displacement: The Pandits of Kashmir by Seema Shekhawat 38 United Nations Presence in Haiti: Challenges of a Multidimensional Peacekeeping Mission by Eduarda Hamann 46 Resurgent Gorkhaland: Ethnic Identity and Autonomy by Anupma Kaushik BOOK 55 Saviours and Survivors: Darfur, Politics and the REVIEW War on Terror by Karanja Mbugua This special issue of Conflict Trends has sought to provide a platform for perspectives from the developing South. The idea emanates from ACCORD's mission to promote dialogue for the purpose of resolving conflicts and building peace. By introducing a few new contributors from Asia and Latin America, the editorial team endeavoured to foster a wider conversation on the way that conflict is evolving globally and to encourage dialogue among practitioners and academics beyond Africa. The contributions featured in this issue record unique, as well as common experiences, in conflict and conflict resolution. Finally, ACCORD would like to acknowledge the University of Uppsala's Department of Peace and Conflict Research (DPCR). Some of the contributors to this special issue are former participants in the department's Top-Level Seminars on Peace and Security, a Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) advanced international training programme. conflict trends I 1 EDITORIAL BY VASU GOUNDEN In the autumn of November 1989, a German continually construct walls in the name of security; colleague in Washington DC invited several of us walls that further divide us from each other so that we to an impromptu celebration to mark the collapse have even less opportunity to know, understand and of Germany’s Berlin Wall. At the time, we were all appreciate each other. It is only through opportunities students pursuing our graduate-level law degrees at to transcend physical, psychological and emotional Georgetown University. The celebration was marked by barriers and achieve understanding and appreciation of the constant clanging of wine glasses and beer bottles, each other – despite our differences – that we can start and punctuated throughout by numerous political and to dismantle the stereotypes and misperceptions that legal questions and arguments, which became more drive us to hate each other, to denigrate and demonise animated and passionate as the night and celebrations each other, and that ultimately drive us to violent continued. In the end, though, no amount of political conflict and destructive wars which, in turn, further and legal arguments raised by such passionate perpetuate insecurity. The physical walls need to come graduate students could substitute for the joyous down as a symbolic gesture of the work we need to human emotions that were felt that day. What a do to tear down the “real” barriers in our hearts and watershed event that was! The tearing down of the minds, so that we can build a humanity based on Berlin Wall ushered in a new era in global politics. The mutual understanding and appreciation. eradication of the physical “wall” symbolised new I therefore commend the Nobel Peace Committee opportunities and hope to dismantle the entrenched for having the foresight to award United States emotional and psychological barriers that prevented President, Barack Obama, the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. people from knowing each other and interacting with This gesture recognises that, despite his identity and each other. name, President Obama has come to represent – In October 2009, almost 20 years after my evening through his actions, the eloquence of his words and of revelry in Washington DC, and several thousand his very being – an openness to meet and interact miles from where the Berlin Wall stood, I stood at with all people, thus setting an important and strong another wall, in the Middle East – one that stretches leadership example for attempting to break down the almost 700 kilometres in length. Israel’s “Separation walls of prejudice and stereotyping, and for suggesting Wall” began in June 2002, at a cost of US$3.5 million that there is an alternative to dealing with problems per kilometre. While this cost is astronomical, it pales based on relationship-building and understanding. into insignificance when one considers the cost in Despite criticisms of his new leadership from his home human suffering that the wall currently brings – and base, President Obama has still managed to represent will most certainly bring for the time that it stands. all of this at a local and global level, and continues to By late 2008, almost 300 000 people were affected by act and speak in ways that encourage all of us to break land confiscation, tree uprooting and inaccessibility to down the walls of our own prejudices and stereotypes. land, water and other resources in the northern West This, however, is not a task that should rest on the Bank, Jerusalem and Bethlehem. shoulders of one man or leader alone; we all need to Such walls and barriers of separation symbolise become active participants in tearing down the walls and mark the reality of our human existence. that divide us, and building bridges that unite us – and The lessons of history seem to evade our leaders at we need to do it now! exactly the time when history should be evoked to provide wisdom for decision-making, so that we do not Vasu Gounden is the Founder and Executive repeat the terrible lessons of the past. Human beings Director of ACCORD. 2 I conflict trends PARAMILITARY GROUPS AND NATIONAL SECURITY: A COMPARISON BETWEEN COLOMBIA AND SUDAN WRITTEN BY JERÓNIMO DELGÅDO CAICEDO1 SA The boundaries and names shown and the designations used U on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance D by the United Nations. I Lake R A SUDAN E R L Nasser Administrative D A EG YPT boundary i B I b Halaib S E A y Wadi Halfa A a Semna West Selima Oasis Kumma Salala Lake b i n Nubia N u b i a n d O Muhammad i d a Qol D NORTHERN Desert W e Laqiya Arba‘in s Abu Hamed Port Sudan u Kerma e a RED SEA Suakin Nukheila e t le a i r l Dongola N P t d Karima Tokar a NILE Haiya y b Old Dongola Merowe El‘Atrun A l Karora e sh b hu Atbara e s lk a i Ed Damer J ag ar N M Gadamai ow l lu CHAD H e l Du Meroë i b e A d e di u a J a b tb W A a W z Shendi r o a Q ERITREA NORTHERN Abu ‘Uruq KKHARTOUMHARTOUM KASSALA Omdurman Kassala DARFUR Khartoum Halfa al NORTHERN Gadida Asmara Miski El GEZIRA KORDOFAN i d a m Wad Medani Umm Badr H r a Gedaref Te Sodiri D keze El Geneina Al Fasher GEDAREF El Obeid Sinnar Kosti WESTERN D En Nahud in Gonder d DARFUR WHITE e SENNAR r Abu Zabad NILE Nyala T'ana SOUTHERN KORDOFAN Renk Hayk' Ed Damazin A bay Ed Da‘ein e ( l BLUE Blu Al Fula i e Tullus N Nuba Mts. N Famaka i e l Buram Muglad Kologi t NILE e i ) h SOUTHERN DARFURB Kadugli Talodi W a bay Radom h Paloich A r el'Arab Abyei UPPER UNITY Kafia Kingi Malakal ETHIOPIA CENTRAL Lol f NILE NORTHERN a l S r a o Adis Abeba Ju Bentiu a n b AFRICAN r Z Kigille a a WESTERN Aweil BAHR t (Addis Ababa) z C e i REPUBLIC Raga r e EL GHAZAL l h WARRAB S g Fathai a n BAHR o B o g J n o Wau u Akobo P P d JONGLEI i EL GHAZAL b Rumbek o o W d r Ukwaa Om LAKES h i t e Bor Towot Kenamuke N Swamp i S UDAN l Administrative Li Amadi e Kobowen boundary National capital Yubu WESTERN EASTERN Swamp EQUATORIA EQUATORIA State (wilayah) capital Maridi Juba Kapoeta Yambio Ch'ew Bahir Town CENTRAL Torit Lotagipi Major airport EQUATORIA Swamp Yei Nagishot International boundary DEMOCRATIC e L. Turkana State (wilayah) boundary REPUBLIC OF il (L. Rudolf) N t THE CONGO r Main road e b l UG ANDA 1000 200 300 km Track A ctori Vi a N i l Railroad L. Albert e 0 100 200 mi L. Salisbury KENYA L. Kyoga Map No. 3707 Rev. 10 UNITED NATIONS Department of Peacekeeping Operations April 2007 Cartographic Section When trying to come to terms with the study of New Wars and the Role of the Paramilitaries some of the most complex armed conflicts in the world, Conflict tends to be understood as a negative the particularities of each context are usually highlighted phenomenon associated with violence. However, it in such a way that their complexity is justified. Most can also be understood as a multidimensional, natural scholars interested in the developments of the conflicts phenomenon that usually indicates the occurrence of in Sudan and Colombia appear to reach a common point changes within a given society. Conflicts occur when two of analysis. However, beyond the obvious differences or more actors believe their interests are incompatible, arising from the contexts in which they have originated, engage in hostile activities, or affect the other actor’s both conflicts are situated in specific and particularly ability to achieve its goals. Conflicts become violent when complex realities, which set them apart from any other the actors involved do not wish to satisfy their interests previously studied scenarios.