OXFORD • RESEARCH • GROUP war prevention works 50 stories of people resolving conflict by Dylan Mathews war prevention works OXFORD • RESEARCH • GROUP 50 stories of people resolving conflict Oxford Research Group is a small independent team of Oxford Research Group was Written and researched by researchers and support staff concentrating on nuclear established in 1982. It is a public Dylan Mathews company limited by guarantee with weapons decision-making and the prevention of war. Produced by charitable status, governed by a We aim to assist in the building of a more secure world Scilla Elworthy Board of Directors and supported with Robin McAfee without nuclear weapons and to promote non-violent by a Council of Advisers. The and Simone Schaupp solutions to conflict. Group enjoys a strong reputation Design and illustrations by for objective and effective Paul V Vernon Our work involves: We bring policy-makers – senior research, and attracts the support • Researching how policy government officials, the military, of foundations, charities and The front and back cover features the painting ‘Lightness in Dark’ scientists, weapons designers and private individuals, many of decisions are made and who from a series of nine paintings by makes them. strategists – together with Quaker origin, in Britain, Gabrielle Rifkind • Promoting accountability independent experts Europe and the and transparency. to develop ways In this United States. It • Providing information on current past the new millennium, has no political OXFORD • RESEARCH • GROUP decisions so that public debate obstacles to human beings are faced with affiliations. can take place. nuclear challenges of planetary survival 51 Plantation Road, • Fostering dialogue between disarmament. which can only be solved Oxford OX2 6JE those who disagree. In an informal United Kingdom environment collectively and co- operatively. Oxford Research Group Tel: +44(0)1865 242819 Our research on the non-violent with skilled Fax: +44(0)1865 794652 resolution of conflict began in facilitation we is committed to this Email: 1988, resulting in the publication in help to build approach. [email protected] 1992 of Hugh Miall’s study of over bridges of Website: www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk 80 conflicts since 1945, showing understanding as a how many were resolved without means of opening up new Registered charity no: 299436. resorting to war. ideas and making possible significant policy shifts. 2 OXFORD • RESEARCH • GROUP war prevention works 50 stories of people resolving conflict Written by Dylan Mathews Published by Oxford Research Group First published in September 2001 Reprinted in January 2002 Copyright 2001 Oxford Research Group, 51 Plantation Road, Oxford OX2 6JE, England. Tel: +44 (0)1865 242819. Fax: +44 (0)1865 794652 Email: [email protected] Website: www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk War prevention works: 50 stories of people resolving conflict Oxford Research Group 3 Contents 2 Oxford Research Group Escalating violence 44 Liberian Women's Initiative in Liberia 3 Title page 1993 - 1997 24 City Montessori School in Lucknow, 4 Contents 46 Local Peace Commissions and the India 1992 Council of Evangelical Churches The five chapter titles refer to the 26 The Mediation Network in Northern Nicaragua 1984 - 2001+ stage of the conflict at the time of Ireland 1995 involvement by the organisation 48 Lutheran World Federation profiled. Within each chapter the 28 OSCE High Commissioner on in Guatemala 1988 - 1996 stories are presented alphabetically National Minorities in Estonia 1993 Natal Chamber of Industries by organisation name. 50 30 Partners for Democratic Change in South Africa 1989 - 1990 6 Foreword by Elise Boulding in Hungary 1996 - 1998 52 New Sudan Council of Churches 7 Foreword by Adam Curle 32 Patriotic Movement Against Crime in Southern Sudan 1999 - 2001+ 8 Introduction by Scilla Elworthy in El Salvador 1995 - 1999 54 Peace Brigades International 34 Project on Ethnic Relations in Colombia 1995 - 1999 in Romania 1991 - 2001+ 56 Peace Community of San Jose de Before any violence Apartado in Colombia 1997 10 Committee for the Protection of 58 The Quakers in Nigeria 1967 - 1970 People's Dignity in Nigeria 2000 Full blown violence 60 South African Council of Churches 12 East West Institute in the Federal 36 The Borama process in Somalia and the Consultative Business Republic of Yugoslavia 1999 - 2000 1991 -1993 Movement in South Africa 14 Moral Re-Armament in Meghalaya, 38 Centre for International Development 1990 - 1991 India 1967 - 1972 and Conflict Management in 62 Wajir Peace and Development 16 OTPOR in Serbia 1998 - 2000 Lebanon 1984 Committee in Kenya 1992 - 1995 18 Saferworld in Europe 1992 - 2001+ 40 Community of St Egidio 64 Witness for Peace in Nicaragua 20 The Holy See in Chile and Argentina in Mozambique 1989 - 1992 1983 - 1990 1978 - 1984 42 Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo 66 Women’s Groups in Somalia 22 St Xavier's Social Service Society in in Argentina 1977 - 1983 1991 - 2001+ Ahmedabad, India 1991 4 Contents Contained violence 92 Search for Common Ground 110 What lessons can be learned? in Burundi 1995 - 2001+ 113 Research notes 68 ActionAid in Burundi 1993 - 2001+ 94 Sulima Fishing Community 114 Footnotes 70 Academic Associates PeaceWorks in Development Project in Sierra Leone 118 Organisations profiled Nigeria 1997 - 1998 1997 - 2001+ 120 Organisations contacted 72 Amnesty International in Turkey 96 Witness in India 1998 124 Annotated bibliography 1990 - 2000 126 Contribute 74 Christian Peacemaker Teams 127 Acknowledgments in Hebron, the West Bank, Occupied After the violence Territories 1995 -1999 98 Archdiocese of São Paulo in Brazil 76 Conflict Management Group 1979 - 1985 in Ecuador & Peru 1995 - 1998 100 Centre for Peace non Violence and 78 Dartmouth Conference Regional Map key Human Rights in Osijek, Croatia Conflicts Task Force in Tajikistan 1999 - 2000 1993 - 2001+ 102 Christian Health Association of 80 FAFO Institute for Applied Social City / Town Liberia in Liberia 1997 - 1999 Sciences in Israel 1989 - 1993 Neighbouring 104 Lebanon Conflict Resolution Network 82 JAMAA in Burundi 1994 - 2000 Country Country in Lebanon 1999 84 Moral Re-Armament in Zimbabwe 106 Moral Re-Armament in France and 1974 - 1980 Germany 1946 - 1950 Region 86 Moldovan Initiative Committee of 108 Office of Human Rights of the Management in Moldova 1992 - 2001+ Archdiocese of Guatemala 88 Nairobi Peace Initiative in Ghana Capital in Guatemala 1995 - 1997 1994 - 1996 All maps Norwegian Church Aid in Mali are hand 90 drawn from several sources 1995 - 1996 and therefore lack scale or detail. War prevention works: 50 stories of people resolving conflict Oxford Research Group 5 Foreword In a world of 10,000 ethnies spilling Each story is unique, yet common Whether efforts begin at governmental The stories are highly condensed, across the borders of the 189 states threads appear in the pattern of the levels or at the grassroots, the stories skilfully summarizing complex of the United Nations system, activities described. They include the make clear that locals and national unfoldings of many interrelated violence seems to be everywhere, at following: the creation of special governments (where such exist) need events. Read them as stories! More least from the perspective of listening spaces, whether by national each other. While many of the complete documentation of each story contemporary reporting in the mass leaders or by local activists, conflicts are still simmering, in will be found in the footnotes, as will media. Arms, whether in the hands of women's groups, faith each case a creative references to scholarly analyses of government forces or opposition groups or elders, Offering process has been the conflict-resolving processes at groups, seem to do little for human spaces where stories concrete evidence delineated involving work. But even without looking up a security. And yet the world goes on, of suffering are a continual single footnote, the cumulative effect because peacemakers are also at shared with the of what is possible, relationship- of reading through these stories will work in the midst of violence. Their feared or hated these stories need to be building that holds be to give the reader a powerful activity goes largely unreported, but ‘other’; the promise for an sense of significant peacemaking they represent the path to a more rediscovery of read and pondered by end to violence processes at work in even the most peaceful future, where might does not traditional patterns politicians, civic and the achieving violent conflict situations. The make right. of restitution and activists and policy of new levels of message is one of hope, and of reconciliation, with peaceableness. empowerment for peacemakers The editors of this book have brought women's groups and makers. everywhere. together a wonderful collection of elders often playing stories about how local communities key roles; helpful training participate in transforming conflicts in the skills of dialogue by that have been destroying the friendly outsiders, and accompanying lifeways of their society. Offering mobilization of the community's concrete evidence of what is possible, learning and service resources; these stories need to be read and networking among an ever-widening pondered by politicians, civic activists circle of affected communities, and and policy makers. careful involvement of locals with regional and national leaders and elites. Professor Emerita of Sociology, Dartmouth College, USA 6 Foreword Foreword With increasing globalisation the It is important to recognise, as this At present the culture of achievement, The people whose work is described interests of profit now tend to great diversity of effort demonstrates, profit, power and fame has seeped in the following pages, and those who determine which group or nation that there are no set answers to the into the collective mind. We accept it will be interested in reading about should be supported and how, which problems that beset us. The historical as easily as we accept, and ignore, them, have different values and are of should be helped in its struggle with a setting, the culture, the character of inequalities of wealth or position.