Learning from others in conflict - CAIN

[Pal] Despite modern technology the Palestinians are still using donkeys; weuse them to bypass the checkpoints. It is quicker than waiting for hours.[UPRG] In all conflicts it is always poor people who are most affected.[UDA] In Northern Ireland we normally voted not for those we necessarilywanted in, but in order to keep someone else out. We voted through fear.[Pal] First and foremost we are all humanbeings, then there are things which makeup our identity; in my case, which makeme feel Palestinian. But when we feel underthreat we get deeper and deeper into thoseseparate identities and forget what we shareas human beings. Many fears are real onlyin our imagination.When we feel under threat weget deeper and deeper intothose separate identities andforget what we share ashuman beings. Many fears arereal only in our imagination.The facilitators later summarised the major themes of the first day’s proceedings:• Recognition is fundamental. Without recognition and parity of esteem, peaceis not possible.• A proper peace process is required, through which basic human needs haveto be met, and all ‘solutions’ must address the needs of all parties involved inthe conflict.• Partial or single solutions are to be avoided. There must be alternativeoptions.• Processes and solutions have to be owned and driven by the ordinary people.Empowerment is paramount.• It is essential to make the break from violence. Alternatives have to becreated.• We have to understand the importance of direct contact with the ‘other side’.There must be an acknowledgement of differences. There will be risks involved.‘It takes more courage to end violence than to continue with it.’• Admitting mistakes is important. It is difficult, but will win respect and helpthe process of trust-building and moving on.The second day of the workshop began with a panel presentation by the UPRG[UPRG] Before I begin, can I say that the motto of the UFF is Feriens tego,which means ‘attack to defend’. Over the 30 years of the Troubles the UDA/UFF brought one of the world’s most sophisticated terrorist organisations, theIRA, to a peace table, and without that effort there might not be a peace process.If we could harness that same energy and direct it into what we want to do overthe next three to five years we could really make this work. Now, the CTI was adocument which tried to create a vehicle, and this vehicle was to help us move23