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A Report: Seminar and Workshop on Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding
in Myanmar
Introduction
With the dual objectives of supporting the ongoing democratic reform and abetting the effort to
end the 60 plus years of armed conflict in the Union of Myanmar, the Council for Democracy in
Burma (CDB) organized a two-day seminar and three-day workshop for leaders of political
parties, NGOs, and civil society organizations in Burma. The “Seminar and Workshop on
Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding” took place December 16-20, 2013 at Inya Lake Hotel in
Yangon, Myanmar. Over 80 participants attended. Our speakers comprised of high-profile
leaders: veteran politicians from the 1990 general election, prominent democratic movement
leaders such as the 1988 generation people’s movement, leaders and policy makers actively
involved in parliament since the 2010 election, and leaders of the ongoing nationwide ceasefire
negotiations.
Participants included leaders of various political parties, civil society organizations, journalists,
and local and international NGOs working to support democratisation effort in Myanmar. Our
seminar and workshop resource persons consisted of distinguished and internationally acclaimed
experts and practitioners: two conflict resolution experts, Dr. Anna Snyder and Dr. Stephanie
Stobbe from Menno Simons College, Canadian Mennonite University; Dr. Brian Rice, historian
from the University of Winnipeg; Dr. Lian H. Sakhong, Director of Burma Centre for Ethnic
Studies; and Dr. Kjell-Ake Norquist, a conflict transformation expert from Sweden.
This report highlights the historical background of Myanmar conflict, objectives of the event,
approaches to addressing the conflict, outcomes of the seminar and workshop, and our
contribution to Myanmar’s ongoing struggle to bring about peace and national reconciliation
among its diverse ethnic groups under a democratic system of government.
Our event was sponsored by senior business leaders from Canada, through the DeFehr
foundation. We are very grateful to Mr. Art DeFehr and his wife, Leona DeFehr, for traveling
from Canada to take part in our event on behalf of the sponsors.
Historical Background on Myanmar
The Union of Burma (Myanmar) as a country was born out of a treaty known as the Panglong
treaty, which was signed on February 12, 1947 by the pre-colonial independent leaders of the
ethnic Shan, Kachin, Chin, and Burman or Bama. Myanmar/Burma was colonized by Great
Britain and later gained independence on January 4, 1948. From 1948 to 1962, Myanmar/Burma
practiced a quasi-federal system under a parliamentary democracy. However, due to the military
coup in 1962, Myanmar/Burma was under military government until March, 2011. Since March,
2011, Myanmar/Burma has been undergoing rapid political reform under the new government
led by President Thein Sein, whose administration introduced a package of democratic reforms.
The contemporary Union of Burma (Myanmar) is a multi-ethnic country made up of eight major
ethnic nationalities, which include the Kachin, Karenni, Karen, Chin, Mon, Arakan, Shan, and
Burman (Bama). Considering that they all have distinct cultures, languages and their own
territory, there is a strong sense that they each must protect and preserve their national heritage.
In the context of Burma’s political conflict, the various sizes of ethnic populations is of great
importance. To get a sense of the population distribution, there is one dominant ethnic group, the
Burman or Bama, who accounts for 60 percent of the entire population; the remaining 40 percent
comprises all the other seven ethnic national minorities. As the country emerges from many
years of military dictatorship, one of the challenges facing the country is a lack of mutual trust
and understanding between the dominant ethnic group (Burman/Bama) and other ethnic national
minorities. All military dictators, who governed the country since the military coup in 1962, have
been ethnic Burmans. As a result, there is ethnic discrimination and consequent
misunderstanding contributing to the chronic problem of distrust, making it difficult to promote
the spirit of inter-ethnic cooperation.
Objectives
Inter-ethnic dialogue has been shown to deepen mutual trust among diverse groups, and the CDB
provided a platform for interactive discussions through the seminar and workshop. Our
objectives are as follows:
(a) To provide a forum for different ethnic and religious groups to get together to
constructively exchange their views on numerous topics with the objective of
introducing various ways to cooperate in order to reach a negotiated agreement;
(b) To promote mutual trust, consolidating a spirit of inter-ethnic cooperation and unity,
and deepening understanding among Burmese ethnic groups (i.e. between the
dominant ethnic Burman and ethnic national minorities);
(c) To equip people with relevant negotiation skills to address conflicts at different levels
and to share the applicable experiences of other countries undergoing democratic
transitions from dictatorship; and,
(d) To eliminate the embedded authoritarian culture in Myanmar by nurturing democratic
values, norms, and practices.
In order to achieve our objectives of the event, we intentionally invited selected participants from
diverse ethnic backgrounds and religions. These people were well represented at the seminar and
workshop.
Program Summary
On the 16th
of December, 2013 we held an opening ceremony which included a number of local
leaders speaking on different topics relevant to Myanmar. We concluded the first day of our
event with a special dinner at the Inya Lake Hotel.
On the second day, we had a seminar mainly for the political parties. Please see the program for
the 17th
of December for further information about our resource persons and the issues they were
presenting on. From the 18th
to the 20th
of December, we held a number of workshops facilitated
by our resource persons, Dr. Anna Snyder and Dr. Stephanie Stobbe. On the last day, the 20th
of
December, 2013, there was a closing ceremony program in which we presented a Certificate of
acknowledgement to our graduates who completed three days of workshops on conflict
resolution.
During the ceremony, Mr. Art DeFehr and Leona DeFehr (the event sponsors) and Mr. Mark
McDowell, the Canadian Ambassador for Myanmar, delivered encouraging speeches to our
participants. We would like to express gratitude to the Canadian Ambassador for attending our
closing ceremony and dinner.
Approach
In our effort to contribute to the overall democratic struggle to secure peace and full
democratization in Myanmar, we needed to identity the challenges and obstacles to the ongoing
peace process. For example, the lack of trust and absence of cooperation are major concerns.
Based on these observations, we developed training materials that address the root causes of
conflict. Our approach to tackle the problem of ethnic distrust was guided by our belief that
building mutual trust between different ethnic groups requires them to interact with each other
and work together in some kind of project or program.
While we are supporting the ongoing reform process at the top-level administration, we are
mainly working for reform and change from the bottom-up. Our concern is that without changing
the mindsets at the grassroots, for people who have long been subjected to authoritarian culture,
our effort to democratize will not be meaningful or unsustainable. By working with local
practitioners who have close connections and contacts with either the leaders at the top or with
ordinary citizens, we can create meaningful change. Training local trainers by selectively
choosing participants from different ethnic groups also allowed us to reach citizens in remote
areas.
Outcomes
Our event is unique in many ways. In both the seminar and workshops, we stressed the
importance of cooperation and collaboration. Note that participants all seemed to appreciate our
basic approach: inter-ethnic dialogue and peaceful interaction among different ethnic groups.
They also believed that this approach is absolutely necessary to eliminate the deep-seated
problems of racially-based distrust and misunderstanding.
Providing broad representation: We have achieved our initial objective of the seminar and
workshop, which was to bring people from different ethnicities and religions together for the
common purpose of building and nurturing mutual trust among them. When we asked our
participants to share their feedback on the strength of our event, the overwhelming majority of
them concurred, referring to, for instance, “the gathering together of people from all different
ethnic groups, across the political spectrum, and different religions to have a peaceful interaction
by exchanging views on ranges of chosen topics and issues among them, which allowed them to
have a better understanding of other cultures and concerns.” Our event included all eight ethnic
groups, all religions including Buddhist nuns, 23 political parties, and over 15 civil society
organizations. To our knowledge there is no other organization that has organized an all-
inclusive gathering by bringing people together from all ethnic backgrounds, religions, and
parties.
Instilling a sense of individual and collective responsibility: One of our aims in organizing
this event was to encourage the participants to take charge of their country’s future – to take
charge of problems and find ways to resolve them. In trying to instill personal and collective
responsibility to resolve problems, we required them to identify and analyze the conflict issues in
their country. In small groups, they were asked to answer the following questions: (1) What are
the root causes of the political conflict in Myanmar?; (2) What are the consequences and
symptoms of the conflict?; and (3) What are some possible resolutions to the conflict? Most
importantly, working together in a group not only allowed them to interact with each other, it
also helped them to deepen their understanding of mutual respect and sense of cooperation. It
was very encouraging to see the passion and effort that the participants put into the activities we
asked them to do in dealing with many of the questions. In their own way, they have all been
involved in nation-building projects at the community, state, and country level. Since they are all
practitioners and doers, they have much to contribute. In the workshops, the participants were
actively engaged in break-out group activities, shared their groups’ findings, and absorbed new
ideas presented to them by our resource persons. In their feedback, they also expressed their
willingness to have more time for discussion. In sharing or presenting their views, we did not
come across any negative confrontation as there was great respect for different points of view.
Supporting leaders of the political parties and civil society organizations: To put Myanmar
in context, the country is now in the process of democratic transition, where leaders of all
political parties are well aware that there will be no significant reform in terms of resolving
Myanmar’s political conflict without the substantive overhauling of the 2008 constitution first.
Currently, all the political leaderships are more concerned about reforming the political system
such as amending the constitution of 2008 to make the country fully democratic. Knowing that
the political parties share goals for democracy and have the leverage to affect positive reforms
inside and outside the parliament, we squarely focussed our two-day seminar for the political
parties to help shape the formulation of their policy making process. To meet the specific needs
of Myanmar’s transitional period, our speakers and resource persons presented relevant
experiences of countries – such as South Africa, East Timor, Laos, and Latin American
countries- that have undergone transition process from dictatorships to democracy or peaceful
co-existence. In fact, our participants found the presentations of our speakers very useful, which
they believe they could utilize in developing policies as well as managing conflicts in their
organizations, parties, and country.
Working in the spirit of cooperation and collaboration: Peace in Burma cannot be achieved
by one person or one party single-handedly. We need the cooperation of all people. Instead of
competing with each other, this is the time to complement each other in activities that contribute
to attaining our shared goal of peace. With that in mind, we collaborated with Burma Centre for
Ethnic Studies (BCES) and Mizzima News agency, one of the national media organizations, to
help run our seminar and workshop. This joint effort demonstrated to the whole movement that
we can work together on common issues and support each other along the way in order to
achieve our shared goal of peace regardless of our diverse backgrounds. This was achieved by
bringing participants from diverse political, social, religious and ethnic backgrounds, and by
collaborating with two other national-level organizations. Through our events, we have shown
that it is possible to not only transcend divisions, but also demonstrate our principle of
cooperating with all who share our goals of peace and democracy in the country.
Supporting the ongoing ceasefire and peace negotiation: Since August 2011, the Myanmar
government has taken unprecedented initiative of trying to secure ceasefire agreements with all
the 15 armed opposition groups that have been fighting against the military government in order
to bring about the restoration of democracy, internal self-determination and autonomy for ethnic
national minorities, and lasting peace in the Union of Myanmar. Thus far, within the last one and
a half year, the government obtained ceasefire deals with 11 of 15 groups. Now, both armed
ethnic groups and the Myanmar government are having a series of meetings with the objective of
achieving a nationwide ceasefire agreement this year – 2014. The overall goal of this current
nationwide ceasefire negotiation is to have a political dialogue to resolve the political conflict
facing the country for over the past 60 years since Myanmar gained independence in 1948. Our
workshops and seminar on conflict resolution and peacebuilding is in line with the shared goals
of both the government and all ethnic armed groups, to find a negotiated settlement to
Myanmar’s political crises.
Connecting with leaders and practitioners on the ground: In organizing this event, one of our
secondary objectives is to be well-connected with the mainstream leadership. In order to connect
with the leaderships, we have managed to visit and meet with almost all the political parties at
their offices. During the five-day seminar and workshops, there was a broad representation of
participants representing 23 political parties and many civil society organizations (see the
attached list of participants). In additions, we also had 29 journalists attending our seminar and
received wide media coverage of our events both in print and TV. Just to also show the support
we received from local leaders, we enclose our program agenda indicating a number of
prominent leaders who were able to make presentations at the seminar. Most notably, we had
leaders such as U Khun Tun Oo, the second most popular leader; Koko Gyi, one of the 88-
generation movement leaders; Harn Yawnghwe, Director of Euro-Burma Office; Dr. Lian H.
Sakhong, Director of Burma Centre for Ethnic Studies (BCES); U Zo Zam, Chairman of Chin
National Party and Member of Parliament; U Tha Ban and U Nai Ngwe Thein, both of them are
veteran Politicians and life-long campaigners for democracy and federalism in Myanmar; Dr.
Naing Aung, head of Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB) and former Chairman of All
Burma Student Democratic Front (ABSDF); Mark McDowell, Canadian Ambassador to
Myanmar; Miss Mia Yen, senior Trade commissioner of Canada; and leaders from the
Myanmar Peace Centre, U Aung Naing Oo, Director of Peace negotiations and political
dialogue, and Dr. Min Zaw Oo, Director of Ceasefire Negotiation and Implementation, who
attended our dinner program to show their support for the events.
Conclusion
The situation in Burma is changing rapidly. To their credit, President Thein Sein and reform-
minded generals within the army have made the choice to modernize the political system from a
totalitarian regime to a semi-authoritarian system. The objective is to gradually transition into a
fully democratic system. To complete Burma's transition to democracy, the country is in dire
need of thriving and vibrant civil society organizations (non-state actors), to provide civic
education for the citizenry and promote democratic principles such as transparency,
accountability, freedom, and human rights. There will be no sustained development without
political stability and rule of law. Now is the ideal time for international organizations and donor
countries to support capacity-building programs inside the country for both government and non-
governmental organizations. With the unprecedented level of openings inside the country since
the new semi-civilian government came to power in March 2011, we have the opportunity and
freedom to organize and run programs that will assist the country in their move towards peace
and democracy.
In terms of challenges, there are many and we do not have any illusion that it will be a long and
difficult journey. However, seeing that there is hope for peace and knowing that everyone in
attendance at the seminar and workshops are committed to constructive change, we believe that
what we do by working with local practitioners through programs and trainings that meet their
needs will be very effective in helping to eliminate prevalent roadblocks for peace in Myanmar.
We have confidence that our work for peace will gradually spread across the country and hope
that the small role we play would be meaningful for the country of Myanmar.
Appedix: Pictures of the event below.
Mr. Zaceu Lian, Director of the Council for Democracy in Burma (CDB), giving welcome speech!
Dinner on the eve of the Seminar and Workshop at Inya Lake Hotel, December 15, 2013
Mr. Art DeFehr, the Event Sponsor ( The DeFehr Foundation), addressing his special remarks.
This is a group presentation..
Conflict Resolutions expert Dr. Stephanie Stobbe, Menno Simons College (MSC), Canadian Mennonite University,
one of the resource persons and facilitators.
Conflict Resolution expert Dr. Anna Snyder, Menno Simons College (MSC), Canadian Mennonite University, one of
the resource persons and facilitators.
Koko Gyi, one of the leading Political figures and mastermind behind the 1988 people’s revolution in Myanmar.
A special Gala Dinner with distinguished guests at Inya Lake Hotel, December 16, 2013.
Hon. Pu Zo Zam, elected Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Chin National Party (CNP).
Dr. Lian Hmung Sakhong, Director of Burma Centre for Ethnic Studies (BCES), presenting on the current peace
process in Myanmar.
A line-up for Dinner at Inya Lake Hotel..
Dr. Brian Rice, the University of Winnipeg and Miss Cherry Zahau, the interpreter.
This is also a break-up group activity and finding.
Group Presentation.. very engaged group indeed.
Role Play: Justice, Peace, Mercy, Facilitator, and Truth with the facilitators Dr. Stobbe and Dr. Snyder.
From Left to Right: Leona, Mark, and Art, while eagerly waiting for the closing ceremony.
Special Dinner with prominent leaders at the House of Memories, the office of Myanmar’s Independence Hero,
General Aung San, the Father of Noble Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Art was talking to U Khun Tun Oo, the
second most Prominent Leader in Myanmar.
Mr. Art DeFher, speaking at the closing ceremony.. December 20, 2013.
Group Photos with Workshop Participants
Dr. Norquist, conflict resolution expert, from Sweden speaking at the Seminar.
One of our graduates holding his certificate of completion for three day of our workshop on conflict resolution:
He was posing picture with Canadian Ambassador, Mr. Mark McDowell and our group.
Mr. Mark McDowell, Canadian Ambassador to Myanmar, speaking at our closing ceremony. Dec. 20, 2013.
This drawing is the visualization of a peaceful and developed city, collectively drawn up by one of the groups.
Miss Thin Thin Aung, Women League of Burma and co-founding director of Mizzima News Agency
U Harn Yawnghwe, Director of Euro-Burma Office and the son of the first President of the Union of Myanmar. Mr.
Harn discussed the current Ceasefire negotiation process in the Union of Myanmar.
From LtoR: U Nai Ngwe Thein, Dr. Lian H. Sakhong, and U Tha Ban (they are all veteran politicians and thinkers)
Dr. Naing Aung, the former Chairman of All Burma Student Democratic Front (ABSDF) and the head of Forum for
Democracy in Burma (FDB).
Appendix: Programs for Seminar and Workshop
Program for Opening Ceremony and Dinner: Workshop and Seminar on
Conflict Resolution and Democratic peace-building in Myanmar
(December 16, 2013)
At Inya Lake Hotel, 37 Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Yangon, Myanmar
Phone + 9519662866, www.inyalakehotel.com
Jointly Organized by: The Council for Democracy in Burma (CDB), Burma Centre for
Ethnic Studies (BCES) and Mizzima
Program for Opening Ceremony (from 1:00 pm to 5:30 pm)
Masters of the Ceremony: Dr. Stephanie Stobbe, Dr. Anna Snyder and Zaceu Lian
No Topics Speakers
1. “Welcome and Introduction” Zaceu Lian, The Council for Democracy in
Burma (CDB), and Ms. Thin Thin Aung, Co-
founding director, Mizzima.
2. “Special Remarks” Arthur DeFehr, CEO and Chairman of Palliser
Company, (MBA, Harvard School of Business).
3. “The state of the ongoing democratic
transition in the Union of Myanmar”
Ko Ko Gyi, One of the 88-generation leaders
4. “The Ceasefire process and its future U Harn Yawnghwe, Director of Euro-Burma
prospect” Office (EBO)
5. “The view of ethnic national minorities” U Nai Nhgwe Thein, leader of the ethnic Mon
and a veteran politician, Union Nationalities
League for Democracy (UNLD), the largest and
umbrella political alliance representing all ethnic
minorities
6. “ Encouragement Speech” U Zo Zam, Member of Parliament (MP) elected
in 2010 election, and the current leader of Chin
National Party (CNP)
7. “Three Stages of Peace” Dr. Kjell-Åke Nordquist, In-charge of Research
Program on Human Rights and Peace-Building,
Stockholm School of Theology, Bromma, Sweden
8. “The role and initiatives of ethnic National
minorities in rebuilding the Union of
Myanmar”
U Tha Ban. Journalist, prolific writer and a
veteran politician.
9. “ Challenges of Exile’s Return” Dr. Naing Aung, Former Chairman of All
Burma’s Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) and
Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB)
10. Closing remarks Dr. Lian H. Sakhong, Director of Burma Centre
for Ethnic Studies (BCES), and Martin Luther
King Peace laureate.
Program for the second Day: December 17, 2013
From 7:00 am to 8:30 am Breakfast
From 8:30 am to 9:10 am “The Great Law of Peace: A North American Traditional
Story about Confederation". Dr. Brian Rice, The University
of Winnipeg, Canada.
9:10 am to 9:30 am Q & A Session
9:30 am to 10:10 am “The underlying causes of Myanmar’s Conflict, the current
peace negotiation process, and a way Forward,” by Dr. Lian
H. Sakhong, Director of Burma Centre for Ethnic Studies
10:10 am to 10:30 Q & A Session
10:30 am to 10:45 am Coffee Break
10:50 am to 11:30 am “Respecting Identity, Creating Justice, and Building Peaceful
Relationships in Laos through Traditional Conflict
Resolution Process”, Dr. Stephanie Stobbe – Professor in
Conflict Resolution Studies at Menno Simons College, the
University of Winnipeg (Canada)."
11:30 am to 12:00 noon Q & A Session
12: 00 to 1:00 pm Lunch Break
1:00 pm to 1:40 pm “Refugees Building Peace: A Study of Refugee Women's
Organizations from Sudan, Tibet, and Myanmar", Dr. Anna
Snyder – Professor in Conflict Resolution Studies at Menno
Simons College, the University of Winnipeg (Canada);
1:40 pm to 2:00 pm Q & A Session
2:00 pm to 2:40 pm “From Agreement to Reconciliation: Philosophy and
mechanisms - Lessons from Indonesia/East Timor, Israelis-
Palestine, Cyprus, and Sudan.” By Dr. Kjell-Åke Nordquist
2:40 pm to 3:00 pm Q & A Session
3:00 pm to 3:15 pm Coffee Break
3:15 pm to 4:30 pm Group Discussion
4:30 pm to 5:00 pm Wrap-up session
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three-day Workshop On
CONFLICT RESOLUTION, PEACEBUIDLING, AND RECONCILIATION
Dr. Anna Snyder and Dr. Stephanie Stobbe,
Professors in Conflict Resolution Studies (CRS)
Menno Simons College (a College of CMU) at the University of Winnipeg
DECEMBER 18-20, 2013
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY
CONFLICT ANALYSIS
PEACEMAKING
PEACEBUILDING/RECONCILIA
TION
Morning Morning
Morning
8:00-8:30 Breakfast 8:00-8:30 Breakfast 8:00-8:30 Breakfast
8:30-10:30
Dr. Snyder & Dr. Stobbe -
8:30-8:45 Introduction &
Guidelines
INTRODUCTION TO CRS
Dr. Stobbe
8:30-10:30
Dr. Snyder & Dr. Stobbe –
8:30-8:40 Welcome & Check-In
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Dr. Snyder
8:40-9:20 - Lecture – Listening
8:30-10:30
Dr. Snyder & Dr. Stobbe –
8:30-8:40 Welcome & Check-In
INTRODUCTION TO
PEACEBUILDING
Dr. Snyder
8:45-9:30 – Lecture - Introduction
to CRS, culture, conflict analysis, c
transformation - personal,
relationship, structural, and
cultural,…
9:30-10:30 – Group Exercise
Statement of hope for positive peace
in Myanmar (Burma) on flipcharts
(different colours for Personal,
Relationship, Structural, and
Cultural)
If time permits:
Roleplay of Interpersonal Conflicts
Skills - types, why important,
9:20-9:30 - Brainstorm
example of time when they felt
listened to (characteristics);
brainstorm principles of good
listening/communication;
9:30-9:50 - Pairs Exercise
Dr. Stobbe
9:50-10:20 - Lecture – Speaking
Skills – respectful language,
honorifics, nonverbal
communication
10:20-10:30 – Small Groups -
brainstorm examples cultural
differences in communication
8:40-9:30 – Lecture - Introduction to
peacebuilding
Lederach’s Diagram (socio-economic,
socio-political, socio-psychological,
spiritual); triangle (top, middle,
grassroots)
IDENTITY & TRUST
Dr. Stobbe
9:30-10:30 – Lecture - Identity
(Rothman; Northrup); Trust (Lewicki
& Wiethoff; Lencioni)
Pairs Exercise – Trust
Small Groups: Relationship/Team-
Building Exercise
10:30-10:50 Coffee Break 10:30-10:50 Coffee Break 10:30-10:50 Coffee Break
11:00-12:30
CONFLICT ANALYSIS
Dr. Snyder
11:00-11:45 – Lecture - Five Level
Analysis (Ramsbothan, Woodhouse
& Miall); Identity
11:45-12:30 Small Groups –
brainstorm – What are the causes of
conflict in Burma based on the
11:00-12:30
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
STYLES
Dr. Snyder
11:00-11:20 Lecture - Five conflict
resolution styles (Thomas-Kilmann)
11:20-11:50 - Complete styles
questionnaire
11:00-12:30
RECONCILIATION
Dr. Stobbe
11:00-11:45 – Lecture - Reconciliation
(Lederach & others)
11:45-12:30 - Reconciliation role play
(Lederach)
model?
11:50-12:00 - Discussion – of results
12:00-12:30 - Role plays –
community conflict; political conflict
12:30-1:00 Lunch 12:30-1:00 Lunch 12:30-1:00 Lunch
Afternoon Afternoon Afternoon
1:00-3:00
DIALOGUE & NEGOTIATION
Dr. Snyder
1:00-2:30 – Lecture - Dialogue &
Collaborative Negotiation; Power
What is your experience with the
conflict?
Dr. Stobbe
2:30-3:00 – Lecture - Conflict Tree
Model (Fisher et. al.)
1:00-3:00
VARIETY OF CONFLICT
RESOLUTION PROCESSES
Dr. Stobbe
1:00-1:40 – Lecture - elicitive
learning, shared values & CR
processes
1:40-2:00 - Lao Folktale
2:00-3:00 - Small Groups – How are
conflict resolved in your
community?
1:00-3:00
TRUTH & RECONCILIATION
COMMISSION (TRC)
TRC DVD VIEWING
Dr. Snyder
1:00-1:15 - Intro to TRC - TRC in
Canada
Dr. Stobbe
1:15-1:45 – Intro to S. Africa & watch
DVD
Dr. Snyder
1:45-2:15 – Intro to Peru & watch
DVD
Dr. Stobbe & Dr. Snyder
2:15-3:00 - Discussion
3:00-3:15 Coffee Break 3:00-3:15 Coffee Break 3:00-3:15 Coffee Break
3:20-5:00
APPLICATION/PRACTICE
Dr. Stobbe
3:20-3:30 - Explanation of Exercise
Dr. Snyder & Dr. Stobbe
3:30-4:30 - Collaborative
Negotiation Exercise in Small
Groups – Discuss the main
problems, effects of the problems,
causes of the problems (tree model),
and collaboratively negotiate needs
and interests related to underlying
causes of conflict.
Dr. Stobbe & Dr. Snyder
4:30-5:00 - Large Group – report
back discussions from small groups
3:20-5:00
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
SPECTRUM
Dr. Snyder
3:20-3:40 - Western CR Spectrum
Diagram
Dr. Stobbe
3:40-4:00 - Asian/Lao CR Spectrum
– Diagram
Dr. Snyder & Dr. Stobbe
4:00-5:00 - Small Groups – Identify
conflict resolution processes that are
used in Myanmar (Burma)
3:20-5:00
PEACEBUILDING ACTION PLAN
Dr. Snyder & Dr. Stobbe
3:20-4:20 - Small Groups - activities
demonstrating peacebuilding action:
1. Personal Activities
2. Communal Activities
Dr. Stobbe & Dr. Snyder
4:20-5:00 Discussion
Action:
Negotiation Exercise – 3-4 small
groups to come up with common
underlying causes of conflict in
Myanmar (Burma)
Action:
Negotiation Exercise –
3-4 small groups to brainstorm
options for responding to the causes
of conflict in Myanmar (Burma)
Action:
Negotiation Exercise – Evaluation &
Action Plan
Large Group – As a group of political
leaders, what peacebuilding activities
or projects can you be involved in?
Evening
5:00 -6:00 Closing Ceremony
Speakers:
1. Mr. Mark McDowell,
Canadian Ambassador to
Myanmar
2. Mr. Art DeFehr, Sponsor, the
DeFehr Foundation
3. Leona DeFehr, Sponsor, the
DeFehr Foundation
Appendix: Profiles of our Speakers and resource persons
1. Ko Ko Gyi is one of the leading political figures of the 1988-generation student
movement group, who was imprisoned for his leadership role in the countrywide revolution in
1988. He is by far one of the most popular political figures in the country, and touted as a
possible candidate for the President of Myanmar in 2020.
2. Dr. Naing Aung is now the head of Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB), based in
Thailand. He was the former Chairman of the All-Burma Student Democratic Front (ABSDF),
which was the largest nationwide student organization formed by University students, who fled
the country after 1988 student-led people’s uprising against the military government in
Myanmar.
3. U Harn Yawnghwe is the Executive Director of the Euro-Burma office, the funding
organization that has long funded the activities of armed opposition movements and civil society
organizations. He is the son of the first President of the Union of Burma, U Sao Shwe Thaik.
4. U Tha Ban is a veteran politician, lawyer and journalist. He was one of the Central
Executive Members of the Union National League for Democracy (UNLD), the largest umbrella
political coalition of ethnic political parties that won the second greatest number of
parliamentary seats – after the National League for Democracy (NLD) – in the 1990 election.
5. Nai Ngwe Thein, former Chairman of the now-defunct Mon National League for
Democracy (MNLD), is one of the leading political leaders, who led the nationwide campaign to
bring about the rights of ethnic political equality and self-determination for ethnic national after
1988. Because of his life-long leadership and sacrifice for the restoration of democracy and
national equality, he was awarded the National Reconciliation Award by by the National
Reconciliation Hero Award conferring committee in Norway.
6. U Zo Zam is the Chairman of the Chin National Party (CNP) and a Member of Parliament
(MP), elected in 2010. Capitalizing on the opening space under the new government, he is
among the leading parliamentarians advocating to amend the 2008 constitution in Parliament.
7. Thin Thin Aung is the Co-founding director of Mizzima, the daily newspaper in Burmese
and English. After 1988 student uprising, she fled to the Indo-Burma border area and joined the
exiled student democratic movement of Burma. She is also one of the founding members of the
Women’s League for Burma (WLB), the national umbrella organization that has long been
advocating for women rights in the Union of Myanmar.
Profiles of our resource persons
1. Dr. Lian H. Sakhong, Director of the Burma Centre for Ethnic Studies, is a long-term
political activist, served as the Chairman of the “Chin National Council” (CNC, 2008-
2010), the Vice-Chairman of the “Ethnic Nationalities Council - Union of Burma” (ENC,
2008-2011), and combining the General Secretary post of ENC, Chin National League
for Democracy-Exile (CNLD), and United Nationalities League for Democracy-
Liberated Areas (UNLD-LA) in 2001-2008. He also was a coordinator of “Supporting
Committee for State Constitutions Drafting Process” (SCSC), 2001-2006; Secretary of
“Federal Constitution Drafting and Coordinating Committee” (FCDCC), 2006-2008; and
worked as a Research Director of the Euro-Burma Office (Brussels), 2008-2011. He was
awarded the Martin Luther King Prize in 2007, which was established in honor of Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. for his historic calling and contribution for peace and harmony
among human race regardless of race by the Swedish based global peace groups
including the Baptist Union of Sweden, Christian Initiative for Peace (Peace Initiative),
Christian Association for Combat to Racism, and Afro-Swedish Association in 2003.
2. Dr. Anna Snyder is associate professor in conflict resolution studies at Menno Simons
College an affiliate of University of Winnipeg and Canadian Mennonite University. A
peace educator, she has taught peace and conflict studies to over 1,500 undergraduate,
M.A., and Ph. D. students including students in exile on the Thai/Burmese border. A
peace scholar, her work in her 2011 co-edited book, Critical Issues of Gender in Conflict
Resolution, Peacebuilding, and Social Movements focuses on the peacebuilding capacity
of refugee women’s organizations in Burma, Tibet, Sudan. In 2007, she conducted
research with refugees from Burma on the Thai/Burmese border and she is currently
interviewing refugees from Burma resettled in Canada”. Her research and publications
build on her expertise in women’s peace organizations; Dr. Snyder’s book Setting the
Agenda for Global Peace: Conflict and Consensus Building looks at transnational
women’s peace networks at the 1995 4th
UN World Conference on Women. Dr. Snyder
is a faculty member in the department of Conflict Resolution Studies at Menno Simons
College at the University of Winnipeg in Canada.
3. Dr. Stephanie Stobbe, is associate Professor, Conflict Resolution Studies Menno
Simons College, Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is an active educator, trainer, and ADR
practitioner with a Ph.D. in Peace and Conflict Studies. As an Associate of the Centre for
Conflict Resolution International, Dr. Stobbe has developed Alternative Dispute
Resolution (ADR) training materials for the organization and facilitated in its seminars,
workshops, and interventions dealing with organizational conflict management. She has
also worked as a researcher with The Action Evaluation Research Initiative, an
organization working on international research and conflict resolution. Dr. Stobbe’s
research interests include workplace and organizational dispute resolution, gender and
conflict resolution, human rights, refugee and immigrant issues, cross-cultural issues,
ethnic conflicts, and traditional or indigenous conflict resolution processes. Dr. Stobbe
has conducted conflict resolution courses, seminars, workshops, and research in Canada,
United States, South America, Lithuania, and Southeast Asia. Dr. Stobbe is a faculty
member in the department of Conflict Resolution Studies at Menno Simons College at
the University of Winnipeg in Canada.
4. Dr. Kjell-Åke Nordquist: Dr. Nordquist is an associate Professor, in-charge of
Research Program on Human Rights and Peace-Building, Stockholm School of
Theology, Bromma, Sweden. His former positions include Head (Prefect) of Department
of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala 1999-2005:Director of
Studies, Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University1987 – 1990,
Assistant Professor, Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University,
1993 – 1998.
5. Dr. Brian Rice is Assistant Professor of Education at the University of Winnipeg. He has
written two books: Encounters between Newcomers and Aboriginal Peoples in the East
(2006) and Seeing the World with Aboriginal Eyes (2005). His dissertation, entitled The
Rotinonshonni through the Eyes of Taharonhiawako and Sawiskera: A Traditional
History of the Iroquois People for Modern Times, with one of its central themes being the
Great Law of Peace, has been used by members of the Six Nations Iroquois in making
their own journeys back to their homeland in eastern Ontario and central New York. Dr.
Rice graduated with a doctorate in Traditional Aboriginal Knowledge from the Division
of Transformative Learning at the California Institute of Integral Studies. He is an
enrolled member of the Mohawk Nation. He has done presentations in Guyana, Ireland,
Senegal, Mexico, Israel, Palestine, Thailand and Australia. He has written a chapter in
The Handbook of Conflict Analysis and Resolution. More recently, he co-authored an
article featured in the book From Truth to Reconciliation.
Appendix: Attendance List for the whole event: Seminar and
Workshop
Attendance List for THE SEMINAR & WORKSHOP ON
CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND PEACE-BUILDING IN MYANMAR
December 16- 20, 2013, Inya Lake Hotel, Yangon, Myanmar
Jointly Organized by: The Council for Democracy in Burma (CDB), Burma Centre for
Ethnic Studies (BCES) and Mizzima
Total Attendance List: 133
Serial
No.
Names Affiliation Remarks
1. Dr. Anna Snyder Resource Person – Menno Simons College,
Canadian Mennonite University.
Canada
2. Dr. Stephanie Stobbe Resource Person – Menno Simons College,
Canadian Mennonite University.
Canada
3. Dr. Kjell-Ake Norquist Resource Person -
Stockholm School of Theology, Bromma,
Sweden
Sweden
4. Dr. Lian H. Sakhong Resource person - Director of Burma Centre
for Ethnic Studies
Thailand
5. Dr. Brian Rice Resource Person- The University of
Winnipeg
Canada
6. Mr. Art DeFehr Sponsor – The DeFehr Foundation Distinguished
guest
7. Leona DeFehr Sponsor – The DeFehr Foundation Distinguished
guest
8. Mr. Mark McDowell Canadian Ambassador to Myanmar Distinguished
guest
9. Miss Mia Yen Senior Trade Commissioner to Myanmar Distinguished
guest
10. U Khun Tun Oo Chairman of Shan National League for
Democracy
Distinguished
guest
11. Dr. Min Zaw Oo Director of Ceasefire Negotiation and
Implementation - Myanmar Peace Centre
Distinguished
guest
12. U Aung Naing Oo Associate Director of the Peace Dialogue
Program – Myanmar Peace Centre
Distinguished
guest
Local Speakers Local Speakers Local speakers
13. KoKo Gyi One of the prominent 88-generation student
movement leaders.
14. U Harn Yawnghwe Director of Euro-Burma Office
15. Hon. U Zo Zam MP and Chairman of Chin National Party
16. U Tha Ban A veteran Politician and Journalist
17. U Nai Ngwe Thein A veteran politician and Former Chairman
of the defunct Mon National League for
Democracy
18. Dr. Naing Aung Head of Forum for Democracy in Burma
and former Chairman of All Burma’s
Student Democratic Front (ABSDF)
19. Miss Thin Thin Aung Co-founding Director of Mizzima News
Agency and one of the leaders of Women
League of Burma (WLB)
Organizers Organizers Organizers
20. Mr. Zaceu Lian Director- The Council for Democracy in
Burma (CDB)
21. Charles Staff/CDB
22. Joshua Burma Centre for Ethnic Studies
23. Ye Win Naing On behalf of Mizzima
24. Miss Ngun Dawi Tial Staff/ CDB
25. Miss Thin Yu Mon Staff/ CDB
Participants Participants
26. Daw Than Than Nu Democratic Party Myanmar Political Parties
27. U Nyi Pu National League for Democracy (NLD)
28. U Tuntun Hein National League for Democracy
29. U Nai Ngwe Thein Mon Democracy Party
30. U Min Kyaw Win Mon Democracy Party
31. U Min Khai Sun Mon Democracy Party
32. Myint Myint Wai The Union of Myanmar Federation of
National Politics
33. Saw Maung Toe Karen Peoples’ Party
34. U Maung Maung Ni National Democratic Party for Development
(NDPD)
35. U Khin Mg Myint National Democratic Party for Development
(NDPD)
36. U Nai Khin Maung Federal Union Party (FUP)
37. Chocho Yaw Nyein Democratic Party Myanmar
38. U Nan Ri Kayan National Party
39. U Saw Mya Chin Progressive Party (CPP)
40. Salai Shien Tun Chin Progressive Party (CPP)
41. U Nay Min Kyaw National Democratic Forces (NDF)
42. Salai Ceu Bik Thawng Chin National Party (CNP)
43. Daw Khin Than Oo Myanmar Farmer’s Development Party
44. Saw Htoo Kay Myanmar Farmer’s Development Party
45. U Aung Than Tint Party for Unity and Peace (PUP)
46. U Thet Oo Party for Unity and Peace (PUP)
47. U Aung Than Democracy and Peace Party (DPP)
48. U Thet Myo Htway National Political Alliance League (NPAL)
49. U Kyaw Thu Aung National Political Alliance League (NPAL)
50. Kyaw Thu Rah National Democratic Forces
51. U Tin Win National Democratic Forces
52. U Nay Min Kyaw National Democratic Forces
53. Akkar Boh The 88 Generation Peace and Open Society
54. Tun Thura Soe The 88 Generation Peace and Open Society
55. U Zaw Ban Kachin Democratic Party
56. U Sang Hlei Mang Ethnic National Development Party
57. Salai Aung Min Hlaing Asho Chin National Party
58. U Kyaw Swa Soe Myanmar Farmer’s Development Party
(MFDP)
59. U Than Nyunt
New National Democracy Party (NNDP)-
60. U Myo Kyaw Arakan League for Democracy
61. U Aung Khine Win National Democratic Party for Development
62. Than Htike Oo The 88 generation Student Youth (The
Union of Myanmar)
63. U Sai Aung Kyaw Soe Shan State East
64. Naw Lwei Wa Paw Women for the World CSOs and NGOs
65. Miss Van Liza Aung Women for the World
66. U Tun Tun Oo Civil Society o organization/Ttawngtwingyi
67. U Zaw Lin KDN
68. U Aung San Oo CSO
69. Peter Sang Observer from Norway
70. Mang Cung Nung CSO
71. Kyi Pyo Chitsa Myanmar Development Resource Institute
72. Thin Thin Aung Mizzima News
73. Hannes Sidel CSI/UNDP
74. Achim Hanns Seidel Foundation
75. Michael Signer Hanns Seidel Foundation
76. Dr. Aye Aye Ngun Yangon University
77. Salai Zie Toe AGS
78. Salai Van Lal Tanpui Chin National Party
79. Thuzar Thant Euro-Burma Office
80. Evan Toe Singapore Embassy
81. Rual lian Thang Heinrich Boll Stiftung Foundation
82. Mr. Manfred Hornung Heinrich Boll Stiftung Foundation
83. Cherry Zahau Pyidawngsu Institute
84. Mai Susu Hlaing C.S.O
85. Thet Aung Myanmar Development Resource Institute
86. Nge Nge Euro-Burma Office
87. Min Hmawng Htaw Ethnic Youth Network Group
88. Khup Kha Mang ZCD
89. Ko Ko Naing Ethnic Youth Network Group
90. CHANT MYAET
AUNG
Mon Democracy Party
91. Saw Blessing Yangon school of Political Science
92. MYO SET THIT
DPN
93. BA MAUNG SEIN
McGill University, MBA
94. SAW PEH BU L.S
95. PRYA REH THAN L.S
96. KATHRA HTERY Nunary (a Buddhist nun)
97. MAY DAR THEIN GI A lin Yaung (nun)
98. TIN ZAR KHINE Myanmar Egress/Myanmar Peace Centre
99. KHAW LIAN
THAWNG
Chin Progressive Party
100. DAW MYA MYA Arakan Women Group
101. DAW SAW KHIN
THINT
Arakan Women Group
102. Khine Khine Win Union of Myanmar Federation of National
Politics
103. Mi Mi Myang Union of Myanmar Federation of National
Politics
104. Mr. Van Bawi Lian CSO
Media Groups Media Group Media Group
105. Zarli Myint Oo Eleven Media Group
106. Min Thu Aung The Messenger
107. Nang Thida Win Yangon Media
108. Aung Thu Htet Yangon Media
109. Aye Theingi Than Yangon Media Group
110. Naing Thoon Oo Kamayut Media TV
111. Hla Hla Win DVB TV
112. Thaw Thaw Golden Fresh Land newspaper
113. Nyi NgaL Democratic Voice of Burma
TV
114. Ye Min Oo MN TV
115. Wa Lone Myanmar Times
116. Emily Eih Pyi TV
117. Ay News The Voice
118. Aung Khant Pit Taing Journal
119. Yan Myo Aung 7 Day
120. Kyaw Yin Than 7 Day
121. Nay Hnin Envoy
122. Naw Ko Ko The Voice
123. Kyaw Aung Radio Free Asia
124. Aung Naing Radio Free Asia
125. Way Yin Oo Radio Free Asia (RFA)
126. Kyaw Htoo Aung Radio Free Asia (RFA)
127. Aung Thi Hah Oo Pit Ttaing
128. Nan Lwin Mizzima
129. Yi Mon Yangon Times
130. Zarli Myint Oo Weekly Eleven
131. Zin Bo Lwin Daily Eleven
132. Salai Mang Hre Lian The Chinland Post
133. Zin Bo Lwin Eleven Media Group
Note: We are grateful to note that we had a broad and comprehensive representation of many
diverse backgrounds (a) all eight ethnic backgrounds- Kachin, Karenni, Karen, Chin, Mon,
Arakan, Shan, and Bama/Burman, (b) all major religions of the country – Christianity, Islam,
and Buddhism, and (c) almost all the mainstream political parties, numerous civil society
organizations, and many NGOs and INGOs working for the restoration of democracy in
Myanmar.
Total participants are 133
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