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