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Special Report |
LAST UPDATE July 1, 2010
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| June 2, 2010 |
Restoring peace without weapons – Tim Wallis |
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Tim Wallis says Nonviolent Peaceforce works to educate people about what their responsibilities are under international humanitarian law. |
"Can one unarmed person be more powerful than a column of tanks?" Tim Wallis, guest educator and Executive Director of Nonviolent Peaceforce, believes so. In a lecture to participants on the 69th Voyage, Mr Wallis talks about the recent war in Bosnia as an example. He says a commander of United Nations peacekeeping troops had a column of tanks which was trying to get to an area where civilians were being threatened, but was not allowed past a checkpoint. The commander called a journalist to the scene and half an hour later his column was let through without a shot being fired. This method of bringing in an outside force to resolve tensions between two groups is one of the pillars of Nonviolent Peaceforce.
The organisation, of which Peace Boat is also a member, was set up in 2002 when 139 representatives from 47 nations met in India to create an organisation to help local activists to resolve conflicts in their region. Today Nonviolent Peaceforce sends representatives to areas in conflict to help facilitate dialogue between armed groups, civilians and other actors. "This simple idea of having people from outside, visibly watching and observing, can have an impact and can stop violence," Mr Wallis says. |
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| Lucy Heart Star (left) is another representative of Nonviolent Peaceforce who has joined the 69th Voyage. |
In a lecture to participants on the 69th Voyage, Mr Wallis says that one of the most difficult lessons to learn is that war can only be resolved by those who are trapped in the conflict. "These are the people most at risk of violence because they are considered traitors if they try to negotiate with the enemy," he says. "This is why we have a focus to protect people that have the ability and will to find a solution to the problem that is creating conflict."
The representatives of Nonviolent Peaceforce are neutral and strive to build relationships with all individuals and organisations. They also investigate situations, and try to hold military groups, governments and police accountable for their actions. "By liaising with locals, government, and conflict groups, we are working to understand the violence, to find out where it is coming from and to reduce that violence," Mr Wallis says. The actions of Nonviolent Peaceforce has a huge impact on those affected by conflict and can help end inhumane tactics, such as the recruitment of child soldiers. "It is hard to imagine that ruthless killers and dictators would be affected by Nonviolent Peaceforce, but it happens," Mr Wallis says.
Read more about Nonviolent Peaceforce on their website: www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org |
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