Reporting on Conflict | Media Watch Blog

• News source:
• originally published August 2008
• Bangkok Post
• By William Roth

It is with obvious relief for everyone that the recent meeting of the Cambodian and Thai foreign ministers ended with a decision to mutually reduce the number of troops in the area of the Preah Vihear temple…

However, this dispute has been going on for 46 years, ever since the International Court of Justice in 1962 awarded sovereignty over the temple to Cambodia.

Is there truly realistic hope that the two parties, on their own, will somehow now be able to solve the complex and difficult issues involved?

… [S]ometimes the only way the matter can be settled peacefully is by some form of third party help.

• News source:
• originally published July 2008
• Bangkok Post
• By William Roth

From the daily reporting of the current dispute involving the Preah Vihear temple, it would be difficult, if not impossible, for the average reader to discern what the “true” facts are.

Various factions on both sides of the border, official and unofficial alike, make conflicting assertions regarding the issues, and the fires of nationalism are being stoked for what seem like clearly political purposes…

It is with these concerns in mind that the following analysis is offered, in the hope that it might shed fresh light on the situation and contribute to a solution beneficial to both countries.

• News source:
• 27 April 2009
• Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand
• An evening with HE Judge Sang-Hyun Song

Monday, April 27, at 8:00 pm
Cover charge for non-members: 300 baht

The head of the world’s top criminal court is coming to Bangkok. HE Judge Sang-Hyun Song was elected last month as the president of the ICC. Judge Song, from Korea, is the first Asian president of the court. He has extensive experience in international law – notably humanitarian and human rights law – as well as court management…

Should Thailand now ratify the ICC statute? And is there a chance that Thaksin could ever stand trial in such a court? What about the top generals in Burma, who have overseen years of gross human rights abuses? Are they more likely contenders for an ICC trial at The Hague? Judge Song will shed light on these significant issues.

• News source:
• 26 April 2009
• Bloomberg
• By Daniel Ten Kate

Thai anti-government protesters, rallying last night after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva ended emergency rule, said recent violent protests were a “mistake.”

“We were angry and wanted to end things quickly even though we knew it was impossible,” said Jaran Ditapichai, who helped lead the protests two weeks ago. “That was a mistake. We must change people’s minds to fight for a long time.”

“If the government has more time to work under a more peaceful environment, we will have time to work on the economy,” Abhisit said today in a weekly television address. “As long as people protest without weapons, it’s no problem.”…

“The cause of violence of course comes from politics,” Abhisit said today. “I invite all sides to brainstorm to find a solution.”

• News source:
• 26 April 2009
• Observer
• By * News * World news * Bolivia Bolivia's 'little Indians' find voice President Morales is giving sweeping rights to indigenous groups who use modern pop to refresh their traditions * Rory Carroll in La Paz and Andres Schipani in Achacachi

For centuries they were shadow people, a defeated underclass banished to the margins of society and forced to work, and obey, in silence.

But a largely peaceful revolution has empowered Bolivia’s indigenous majority this year and transformed the country into a 21st-century standard-bearer for South America’s native populations.

• News source:
• 23-29 April 2009 edition
• Common Ground News Service
• By Darya Shaikh

NEW YORK – In the midst of a stalled peace process in the Middle East, a new poll released today by the OneVoice Movement, an international grassroots peace movement equally represented both in Israel and in Palestine, provides a snapshot of Israeli and Palestinian public opinion and insights into how peace negotiations should move forward from now on.

• News source:
• 18 April 2009
• Brains on Purpose
• By Stephanie West Allen

Attention is a pivotal force in any conflict. More than that, it is the key to success in any arena because your attention defines you. Laurence Freeman said, “You are a disciple of that to which you give your attention.” Gangaji said, “”Wherever your attention is, this is what you love.” William James said that what we pay attention to is what we believe. They echo what philosophers have been saying for centuries and what neuroscience is now showing. From “Attention Density: New Big Thing?” (Consulting Today) [pdf]:

Where we choose to put our attention changes our brain, which in time can change how we see and interact with the world.

A mediator can facilitate where parties to a conflict put their attention and thus can orchestrate the brain circuits in their brains.

• News source:
• 25 April 2009
• Walrus Magazine | May edition
• By Jina Moore

Fifteen years after Rwandan Hutu massacred hundreds of thousands of their Tutsi countrymen, one survivor and the man who cut off her hand tell the horrible truth about the genocide and explain how, even with so much suffering between them, they eventually made peace.

• News source:
• 25 April 2009
• PNN
• Among those at the demonstration was Vice President of the European Parliament, Luisa Morgantini.

BIL’IN – Palestinian medical sources and witnesses report that 30 people were wounded Friday when Israeli soldiers opened fire on demonstrators who were protesting the Wall that the Israelis continue to build in the West Bank.

Hundreds were protesting yesterday as part of the weekly demonstrations and as a wrap-up to the conference on popular resistance held in the western Ramallah town.

Israeli soldiers opened fire with rubber-coated steel bullets and gas…

• News source:
• 24 April 2009
• Bangkok Post
• By AFP

Thailand and Burma signed an agreement on Friday to combat human trafficking, especially of women and children — the first such pact between two countries, the official statement said.

• News source:
• 24 April 2009
• SLaw
• By Simon Fodden

Yesterday’s Federal Court decision of Mr. Justice O’Reilly, Omar Ahmed Khadr v. The Prime Minister Of Canada, The Minister of Foreign Affairs, The Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, and The Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police 2009 FC 405 [pdf], is available in PDF.

[3] I am satisfied, in the special circumstances of this case, that Mr. Khadr’s rights under s. 7 of the Charter have been infringed. I will grant his request for an order requiring the respondents to seek his repatriation from the United States.

• News source:
• 16 April 2009
• Transitional Justice Forum
• By Evelyne Schmid

On April 10, Amnesty International (AI) launched an appeal and a short video calling upon the Nepalese government to protect women human rights activists…

In Nepal and elsewhere, civil society groups have called for greater attention to women in transitional justice processes. In February 2009, the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) published a report on gender-specific violations in Afghanistan. The three authors – Fatima Ayub, Sari Kouvo and Yasmin Sooka – argue that the deprivations and violations suffered by women are rarely specific to outbreaks of war. Rather, the authors conclude that the conflict merely accentuates discrimination and violations that women suffered during peace.

• News source:
• 24 April 2009
• USIP
• New Online Site to Assist in Conflict Work

The Institute has launched a Web site that pulls together multimedia resources to help with international conflict management. The online collection — jointly developed with Georgetown University — features links to videos, radio clips, computer games, teaching guides and other media products to assist those involved in conflict resolution.

• News source:
• 24 April 2009
• UNDP

NEW YORK — To better respond to natural disasters, governments should invest more in risk reduction for vulnerable communities and make sure to reflect gender concerns in the recovery processes, says a report presented today at the United Nations. Involving local communities in the recovery process, according to “The Tsunami Legacy: Innovation, Breakthroughs and Change” report, is as instrumental as installing high-tech early warning systems. The report also highlights the need for governments to incorporate disaster risk reduction measures in national development plans….

“The tsunami recovery effort has showed that by working together —and by collaborating with local communities at every step along the way— we can indeed build back better,” said Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and Chair of the UN Development Group.

• News source:
• 21 April 2009
• Media Matters

On the April 20 edition of NBC’s Nightly News, reporting on the awarding of the 2009 Pulitzer Prizes earlier that day, anchor Brian Williams stated that “The New York Times led the way with five, including awards for breaking news and international reporting.” But Williams did not note that the Times’ David Barstow was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting that day “for his tenacious reporting that revealed how some retired generals, working as radio and television analysts, had been co-opted by the Pentagon to make its case for the war in Iraq, and how many of them also had undisclosed ties to companies that benefited from policies they defended.” Media Matters for America has repeatedly documented the unwillingness of the major broadcast networks, including NBC, to report on Barstow’s April 20, 2008, Times article. Moreover, NBC joined ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC in reportedly declining to participate in a segment based on Barstow’s article that aired on the April 24, 2008, edition of PBS’ NewsHour.

• News source:
• 24 April 2009
• International Crisis Group
• The aftermath of Cyclone Nargis revealed an opportunity to the international donor community. It would be a shame to squander it.
• By Neil Campbell in European Voice

The EU should abandon a policy maintained by those with an eye on noble points rather than on new opportunities to promote change.

At next week’s meeting of EU foreign minsters in Luxembourg, the EU will extend, for another year, policies on Myanmar that are widely recognised as ineffective.

• News source:
• 18 April 2009
• IPS News
• By Joyce Mulama

NAIROBI – When heads of districts describe efforts to fight sexual violence as a waste of resources, it raises questions about the leadership’s commitment to deal with the matter.

Such is the situation in northern Uganda where district commissioners, have dismissed sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) as non-existent, asking that donor funds for psychosocial support for survivors of SGBV be directed to other sectors…

A regional programme seeking to chart ways of jointly addressing gender violence in conflict and post-conflict situations in five countries has been launched by the Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development (ACORD).

The Regional Gender Programme targets five countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.

• News source:
• originally published 8 April 2009
• This Is Local London
• By Rebecca Lowe

THE United Nations has appointed a Barnet resident to the prestigious position of human rights rapporteur for Cambodia.

One of only eight UN special rapporteurs in the world, 51-year-old Surya Subedi, from Manorside, will be expected to identify human rights problems in the country and give constructive recommendations to help tackle them.

Dr Subedi was given the post because of his contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights over the past two decades, both nationally and internationally.

He said: “The job will be a huge challenge because it will involve speaking on behalf of marginalised and oppressed groups – the people who can’t speak up for themselves.

“But I feel confident I can do a good job. My approach will be not to criticise people, but to offer constructive advice…

• News source:
• 20 April 2009
• Upside Down World
• By Raimondo Chiari

A dirt road leaves the city of Apartado, in the region of Urabá, in the Northwestern Colombian province of Antioquia, making its way up into the mountains…

Urabá has been major theater in Colombia’s forty years long and ongoing armed conflict. All armed actors are present in the region: the Colombian army, left-wing guerillas and, since the mid 1990s, ultra-right wing paramilitaries. The arm carriers are not only fighting for these fertile lands, but also for the control of this strategic corridor to Panama and the Pacific region of Chocó, indispensable to international drug traffic. Stuck in the middle, thousands of civilians have been killed, disappeared and displaced, stripped of their lands, accused of or forced into collaboration with one or another group. In this sea of violence however, there is an attempt to create an island of calm.

• News source:
• 19 April 2009
• Times of India
• See the UN Webpage

CHANDIGARH – After spreading the message of peace in several parts of the globe, an exhibition called ‘Building a culture of peace for children of the world’ was inaugurated in the city on Saturday. The international exhibition has been brought to India by Bharat Soka Gakkai (BSG), the Indian arm of Soka Gakkai International (SGI), with active support from the United Nation peace initiatives.