Armed conflict and non-violent intervention

By Dr GOPAL KRISHNA SIWAKOTI

As we venture into the new millennium, we stand at significant crossroads. Will the future bring an incessant stream of devastating armed conflicts and brutal violence, like the horrors we have seen in Kosovo, Rwanda, Iraq and East Timor and now in our own home? Or are there alternatives to the endless repetition of such catastrophies?

A growing number of countries experience internal armed conflict inflicting massive suffering on the population and raising distinctive issues for human rights defenders trying to curb human rights violations. The majority of violent and deadly conflicts in the world take place within states. Armed groups that are not under government control are a key feature of these conflicts and are responsible for many, sometimes extreme abuses of human rights. These are of immediate concern to civilians affected by the fighting, but they also raise issues for national and international organisations that protect human rights, work for peace or provide humanitarian relief.

The principal question is whether human rights defenders should cover conduct by insurgents — guerrilla forces seeking political change, an ethnic or religious group seeking self-determination — as well as by governments. What can be done to influence armed groups to respect human rights? Do the same techniques apply that are used to shame abusive governments? A policy of human rights defenders that was close to uniform a decade ago views conduct by non-governmental groups, however destructive toward opponents or unengaged civilians, as a matter for the state’s criminal law. It lies outside the scope of human rights law, which deals with state action. That policy has changed in many instances in the light of the growing incidences and brutality of ethnic, religious and ideological conflicts, and in response to sharp criticism by governments of the reports from human rights defenders that are critical of state action but silent about similar or worse behaviour by insurgents.

Can one - should one —enter into a dialogue on human rights with groups that have engaged in acts of terror and laid waste their societies? Does engaging with armed groups imply recognition and therefore legitimacy? Will focusing on the abuses of armed groups undermine efforts to hold governments accountable or deflect attention from violations committed by government forces?

To these questions we should be adopting an essentially pragmatic approach. There is an alternative, one that builds upon the recent experiences of many organizations that have successfully experimented with the application of "Third Party Nonviolent Intervention" techniques in areas of advanced conflict. Out of these experiences has grown a new wave of deliberate nonviolent intervention carried out by some twenty or so organizations around the world: Peace Brigades International (PBI), Witness for Peace, Christian Peacemaker Teams, Balkan Peace Teams, International Fellowship of Reconciliation, Helsinki Citizens Assembly, International Alert, SIPAZ (Servicio Internacional para la Paz) and others took their permanent place along side ad hoc projects (like Cry for Justice in Haiti). Peace teams are working at present in Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, the Balkans, Israel/Palestine and Nicaragua.

The decade of the 1980s was important for the development of peace teams. During this period, a number of NGOs like the religious-based Witness for Peace and the nominally secular Peace Brigades International, saw action in Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Sri Lanka and Quebec. A small PBI presence in Guatemala, whose "protective accompaniment" deterred the assassination of key human rights workers and supported the creation of a small "space for peace" in that embattled society, contributed greatly to the subsequent re-emerging of a democratic society and the peace process.

In 1985, Guatemalan women from Grupo de Apoyo Mutuo (GAM) requested that PBI provide 24 hour nonviolent accompaniment for their leaders after two of its members had been assassinated. Much of Guatemalan civil society had been wiped out by the military at that time, leaving most of the citizens too terrified to act. For the next four years, PBI provided "unarmed bodyguards" around the clock for GAM’s leadership. No more group leaders were killed, and the courageous women were able to carry out their work. This encouraged other citizen groups to emerge and begin rebuilding a democratic society. GAM leader Nineth de Garcia told The New York Times: "Thanks to their presence, I am alive. That is an indisputable truth."

This one episode — and there are many like it — gives a glimpse of the potential for nonviolent intervention. Yet, when war erupted in the Balkans, the world lacked a credible, coherent, and comprehensive response. While some international activists bravely carried out nonviolent strategies with the people of the Balkans (and are still doing so), many others could think of nothing better than to go along reluctantly with the NATO response. The situation epitomized the increasing dilemma of the international community when the only widely known alternatives are to do nothing or drop bombs.

Kosovo highlighted the need for substantial, well-organized, international support for the local nonviolent movement. Kosovar Albanian President Ibrahim Rugova was asking for international support of the nonviolent movement in Kosovo as early as 1991. There was no substantial response. Alberto L’Abate, Italian activist and a Balkan veteran, believes that 1,000 international peace workers in Kosovo by 1995 could have played a significant role in averting the violence that exploded in 1998. Their activities could have included protective accompaniment, active support of local nonviolent actions, and training and capacity building of nonviolent and democratic institutions. Nonviolent activists could have also organized international support and media attention for the local nonviolent movement, making visible the possibilities for peaceful resolution.

What has yet to happen is the creation of a standing, trained, non-violent "peace force" (presumably under some global auspices.) Such a peace force would deploy to regions of serious conflict and demonstrate that there is an entirely different way to respond to such human tragedies than by ignoring them (as in Rwanda) or bombing one or the other combatant into uneasy submission (as in Iraq and Kosovo), both leading to untold and seemingly endless human suffering.

The Global Nonviolent Peace Force represents an alternative to massive military intervention that many people hope for, but does not yet exist. Building on important peacemaking work throughout the world, this Peace Force will bring peacemaking to a dramatic, new level. It will be a key component in the development of a strategic, cohesive, efficient, and effective nonviolent response to brutality and threats of genocidal violence.

As the international peace community gained experience and delivered success with third party nonviolent intervention on a small scale (teams of 3-10 members), the vision of a global nonviolent peace force that could perform larger scale interventions began to emerge. Two international consultations, held in 1994 and 1995, were convened to further develop the idea. In May 1999, at the Hague Appeal for Peace, the Peace Force concept took a dramatic step forward when 9,000 activists from 100 countries led by peace champion Ms Cora Weiss drafted a proposal stating among other things that "peace is a human right" and "it is time to abolish war." At this meeting, two North American activists, Mel Duncan and David Hartsough, agreed to commit their organization and personal efforts to building the broad-based support and organizational structures necessary for the realization of this vision.

In barely a year this proposal has caught the imagination and enlisted the energies of thousands of people around the world, many of them with considerable experience in cross-border nonviolent intervention. The Hague proposal has been reviewed, discussed, and critiqued by hundreds of nonviolent activists, scholars, military veterans and government leaders from various parts of the world. These discussions lay the groundwork to mobilizing and training an international nonviolent, standing peace force.

The Peace Force will be sent to conflict areas to prevent death and destruction and protect human rights, thus creating the space for local groups to struggle nonviolently, enter into dialogue, and seek peaceful resolution. Can we not initiate a similar approach in Nepal to get rid of the current trouble?

(The author is Executive Director of INHURED International, Nepal)

saarc @sweetsixteen. troubled.org

By SURENDRA PHUYAL

The forum saw the first light of the day in December 1985. Nurtured and pampered by the "heads of state and government" and people of the South Asian region representing a meagre one-fifth of humanity, it started growing up like the girl next door. Or was it a boy? In recent years, however, things have not been going well. At times gawky, at times worse, its charm has been an elusive entity.

Its childhood days were kind of heydays. That ceased to exist once it entered its teens. Its teen years were quite tumultuous, with bilateral conflicts and hostilities turning things worse from bad. Add to this the debilitating poverty—and now terrorism—that is synonymous to its communities of over one billion people. But, in spite of everything, the SAARC grouping’s seven not-so-friendly brothers is, as they say in this part of the world, "sweet sixteen" today. Belated happy birthday!

That’s a sexy age alright, but not so in the real sense. Its tall and thin figure is not about oomph but about that starved look that the average South Asian carries with him or her as if it is the happening look of the region. But where’s the peace of mind that it has been yearning for years? The day millions of people of the European Union nations got up to have Euro Dollar as their common currency, Pakistani President Gen Pervez Musharraf was preparing for a detour to Kathmandu via Beijing, with India denying airspace to his aircrafts.

Thanks to the conflicts and hostilities, which stem from the region’s harsh socio-economic realities, and its harsher politics, the 16-year-old does not boast of the youthful vigour and vitality it is supposed to flaunt. Even at such a throbbing age, it looks pale and frail. Whereas the European, East Asian and South American brethren are continuing to gallop ahead like well-bred Australian giraffes. It needs some sprucing up—something that is unlikely to happen anytime soon.

It lives in one of the most beautiful settings god has ever created: the silver shining Himalaya, abundant in fresh water resources, garlands its house from the north; vast natural resources thriving in its varied geographical diversity remain untapped; the deep blue ocean surrounding it does not only add beauty but also facilitate smooth access to the rest of the world. And there are those vast underground mineral resources.

Whatever the landscape, the roof is full of holes that can only leak when rain and snow fall. The storehouse is full of grains, but there is not enough food to cook in the kitchen. More often than not, it suffers from acute food- and energy-shortage. It is broke; there is not enough money, neither there is any jewellery nor such precious metals as gold nor silver left (it’s all there hanging on some other sixteen-year-old’s neck).

Most of the time, it can be seen jetsetting, moving from door to door in the global village, and asking for monetary or technical support, despite its vast economic resources that can make it the wealthiest in the world.

But nothing’s never too late, things have not gone out of hand as yet from the teenager. Its near-lost youthful charm and vigour can be restored, provided there is a will; all the seven elements that form it—Bhu, Bang, Ind, Mald, Nep, Pak and Lank—should wake up and get it revving.

World tourism and the way ahead

By Tek Bahadur dangi

Following the terrorist attacks in the US on September 11,2001, one of the world’s largest and fastest growing industries which is a major source of income for many nations and contributes 1 in 12 jobs globally is facing a very hard time. The incident has fuelled economic recession around the world and brought decline in consumer confidence in travel and a burgeoning unemployment crisis. Led by the US, a war against terrorism has been launched and the Taliban regime and the Al Qaida terrorist group are on the verge of complete collapse. But ultimate victory is a distant dream. The war against terrorism seems more likely to be fought on many fronts and over a long time.

The symptoms of global the economic slowdown were already in place specially in the economic giants like the US, Japan and Europe even before Sept 11 .But that incident exacerbated an already precarious world economy with the immediate and more visible impact on airlines and the travel business.

As per recent projections from a survey by the US Department of Transportation, about 8 million adults decided not to travel during the Christmas-New Year holidays this year because of the Sept 11 attacks. The survey further reveals that about 1.4 million changed the way they planned to travel: two-thirds switched to car from plane, a few switched to car from train and a few switched to plane from car, may be lured by attractive fare bargains.

The trend from Sept 11 onwards has caused a huge decline in travel demands especially for long haul, resulting in huge travel cancellations and heavy reductions in travel especially from the US, Japan and Europe to various destinations.

According to Japan Travel Bureau sources, there has been the largest decline in international trips by the Japanese in October and November this year, a drop of 10-15 percent. Cancellations have taken place especially to the US mainland, Hawaii and Guam. Delta, Northwest and US Airways have seen a 25 percent reduction in their passenger traffic and the Association of European Airlines has reported a 33 percent decline in its North Atlantic traffic in October this year compared to the previous year. WTTC predicts a 10-20 percent reduction in travel demands by US citizens over the next 12 months.

In October this year Nepal, India and Egypt registered around 34, 29 and 40 percent tourist arrival declines respectively. In November, Nepal, India and Australia faced a decline of around 44, 26 and 21 percents.

The historic decline in travel demands worldwide has meant low occupancy in hotels. Sydney has already registered the closing down of five tourist hotels and resorts with six others in queue. Mexico has suffered the same lot. The existing scenario has forced Club Med to take the decision to shut down 15 of its hotels temporarily. There have also been huge business closedowns, financial losses, staff layoffs and cutbacks among several airlines, travel agencies, tour-operators, hotels, resorts and cruises. Sabena and Swiss Air have gone bankrupt and Canada 3000 has recently stopped flying. Rolls Royce PCL, Thomas Cook AG-Germany, Airtours PLC-UK, British Airways, just to name a few, have plans for staff reductions numbering 5,000; 2,650; 1,600 and more than 10,000 respectively. Job losses in the US alone have been reported to be around 260,000 till November following Sept 11.

Several airlines have stopped or reduced their long-range flights and withdrawn their orders from Boeing and Airbus industrie. According to IATA information, airlines and companies in the world are in a position to lose 10 billion US dollars in profit this year, and out of 12,000 commercial planes around 4000 have already been grounded.

To win back the confidence of travellers, several airlines have already adopted strict security measures and better equipped the pilots and cockpits. As the share of air transport in the world is the highest (43 percent) followed by road transport (42 percent), rail transport (7 percent) and sea transport (8 percent), its contribution to long-haul travel is of paramount importance, especially in the case of Asian and African destinations which heavily rely on American and European tourists for high volume and yields.

To rescue the sinking airlines and the travel trade, several governments and states like the US, Japan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Nepal have come forward with short- and long-term relief packages including financial incentives.

To fill their empty hotel rooms and aircraft seats, travel agencies, hotels and airlines have come up with innovative packages and discounts which were unthinkable just a few months back. A 533 US dollar two-way ticket to any Asian destination from Europe on Swiss Air and a 99 Pound two-way ticket on the London-New York - London sector on British Airways have become a reality now. Some of the airlines have also increased routes and frequencies in the regional and domestic sectors to suit market demand.

To minimise impact, some provincial and state governments have lifted entry fees at monument sites and relaxed visa fees. The regional/international marketing is also seeing more joint funds and forming of alliances. IATO in India in coordination with MOT, TAAI and FHRAI will organise Road Shows jointly in various parts of the world. Mexico has a 50 percent increase in its promotional budget through a public-private consortium. In the US a $ 20 million TV advertising campaign is to be launched soon using President George W Bush’s appeal to encourage viewers to travel to and within the US. Moreover, competitors are cooperating due to the crisis. A shift in market segmentation has become like a mantra - "Do not put all your eggs into one basket" so that over dependence on a particular country/region does not invite further disaster.

History has proved tourism to be the most resilient industry. The Gulf War (1991), the Kosovo crisis (1998) and the Asian financial crisis (1997/98) had definitely some negative impact on tourism, but it revived in no time and in 2000, world arrivals saw a record 7.4 percent growth to 698 million. WTO has revised upwards predictions for this year for world arrivals by 1 percent and tourism will be on the track to normalcy by the second half of 2002, with even better prospects for 2003.

A few surveys conducted lately have indicated growing confidence among travellers and service providers have attracted more travellers this year compared to the past, raising hope that the days of doom and gloom are nearly over. In view of the present state of tourism around the globe, Nepal also can tap the opportunity if some of the strategic approaches suggested below are taken into consideration and implemented:

Nepal’s geopolitical location between the two most populous countries in the world and emerging economic tigers - China and India - can be a boon for tourism growth .The recently signed tourism pact with China should be implemented effectively with proper attention to tourism products and services development and enhancement, easy accessibility ,easing of visa and other procedures coupled with aggressive marketing aimed at both consumers and the trade. Equally needed is an intensive promotion campaign in India including simplified air travel procedures, and floating of attractive and competitive packages with provision of air seats as per the demand in the peak season. More focus on other emerging regional markets can bring immediate returns for tourism investments.

The state of religious harmony and tolerance and the message of peace from the country of the Buddha can attract a big number of tourists in the present global context if tourists were assured of better safety and security provisions.

It should be noted here that India and China which receive 2.6 million and 31.2 million international tourists rely heavily on domestic tourism which is at the level of 175 million and 740 million respectively. Therefore, designing of attractive packages for Nepalese by the travel trade supported by a compulsory Leave Travel Concession scheme for government employees could be a big departure to boost domestic tourism and supplement the tourism trade in such hard times.

Hosting of national/international level conferences and sporting events can definitely help in projecting Nepal as the most happening place. A collaborative approach by public and private sectors airlines, hotels and travel agencies to invite world class operators and journalists to see the existing and new destinations in Nepal can help revive our tourism image.

Packaging of tourism products in the most competitive and professional fashion and honest and transparent flow of information with highlights on travel-trade developments and improvements are also the means to win consumer confidence. The global trend has indicated more focus on travel by land and it is also high time to eliminate rigidities and absurdities that hinder the smooth development of tourism.

Lastly, a more collaborative approach among various stakeholders -- be it government, private sector or others -- for overall development of tourism is more needed today than in the past. As the government has already come forward with several policy decisions to give a new drive to tourism, it becomes the collective responsibility of all the Nepalese to contribute towards tourism development that holds immense prospects for the prosperity and wellbeing of our nation and people.

(The author is director at NTB)