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Executive Summary:
The 7th SEACSN Regional Conference “Issue
Based Reconciliation”, Phnom Penh, Cambodia,
2003
Clearly evident – all (people and government must
want peace) and here, the commitment of national leaders
is vital, almost a precondition, for any local, national
and international peace to occur. Hence, the need for ‘Nelson
Mandela’s’ for reconciliation to be successful
with exemplary leaders paving the way to the future.
However, IS THIS IN SHORT SUPPLY? HOW TO OVERCOME THIS
DEFICIT? WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?
n understanding the process of reconciliation, there
is always the need to appreciate the various tensions
and dilemmas that are operating at any one time: how
to balance the needs of the people and government? The
need for justice and retribution? The need for economic
development and political stability and the quest for
justice?
How to tackle the problem of perceptions? How to synchronize
the beliefs and expectations of different actors in a
political entity. What is JUSTICE at any one time? (Independence,
retribution, compensation, acknowledgement of wrongdoings?)
How to understand and factor the role of external players,
especially the Great Powers, in conflicts in the region?
Is it realistic to continue to talk of reconciliation
and conflict resolution when the external Giants who
have so much influence and interest would want to see
the regional turmoil continue and even perpetuated through
the local allies, often the military and corrupt politicians
or even economic partners?
An important lesson that can be learnt is that it takes
great resilience, patience and persistence to heal wounds
and achieve long-term peace. It is almost unnatural for
former enemies to live together. There are no magic formulas.
However, confidence and trust are vital, and both sides
need to compromise for a future good. Otherwise, the
conflict, especially, need for revenge, will continue.
Parties to conflict must be convinced that there is ‘LIFE
AFTER CONFLICT RESOLUTION’. Hence, the need to
safeguard all the parties and their interests as part
of the reconciliation, settlement and resolution process.
Otherwise, it will fail. Integrating former enemies and
giving them incentives to do so is an important part
of this peace process even though this is easily said
than done.
It is self-evident that due to the litany of conflicts,
Southeast Asia has many experiences of conflict resolution,
conflict settlement, conflict management and reconciliation.
Why should we waste them? Is it not time, despite the
different sources and modicum of settlements, that these
become learning journeys for peace and harmony. These
can become part of the Regional Peace Projects for others
to learn and where the ‘best practices’ might
be useful for certain conflict situations. Can we develop
a registry of these ‘’learning journeys’’ for
others to benefit? Is there a Southeast Asia ‘way’ to
this?
In his final synthesis of the conference Professor Singh
concluded:
- Lack of peace and continuation of conflicts are
very costly to all, especially the victims.
- It takes times and a great deal of human effort
to achieve this. Peace makers cannot lose heart.
- Peace is power and the power of peace should not
be underestimated.
- That is the only guarantee of our wellbeing and
hence the need to continue studying and understanding
all aspects that would achieve this ultimate goal
of mankind, at least for us, at the local, national
and regional level.
The SEACSN Cambodia wish to thank Professor Singh for
his comprehensive summary of the proceedings and to all
the participants, moderators and presenters for making
issue-based reconciliation come to life in Phnom Penh.
It was an honour for the friends and colleagues associated
with SEACSN in Cambodia to be hosting such an event.
Please come again!
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