Home  About Us Activities in 2006
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Activities in 2006
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Monday, 28 February 2005 |
NISEA: Report of Activities, 2006
In pursuit of its vision, mission and objectives, Nonviolence International Southeast Asia pursued and implemented the following activities within the year 2006.
Monitoring and protection of human rights
NISEA’s work on human rights initially stemmed from a focus on disappearances—a crime perpetuated by states to victimize individuals, gravely affecting their families, and broadly sending a message of terror and creating fear in the society at large. In the past year, NISEA continued to work on this focus area through these efforts:
• Conducted and compiled research on disappearances in six Asian countries which have been made available online
• Convened meetings of Thai civil society actors concerned about disappearances and the lack of justice in Southern Thailand
• Collected and submitted four cases of disappearances to the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances
• Held a meeting with the Thai National Human Rights Commission to present a research on disappearances in Thailand and to explore the process of exhuming unidentified bodies in Southern Thailand.
Escalation of violence and incidences of human rights abuse in the three border provinces in Thailand’s deep south in 2004-2005 called for greater involvement in the local human rights situation. In response, NISEA became involved with various activities to promote and protect human rights particularly of the affected civilians in Southern Thailand.
In the year 2006, NISEA helped to convene and establish the Thai Working Group on Justice for Peace that has been chaired by Ankhana Neelaphaijit, widow of disappeared human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit. As a member of the Working Group and to further the goals of NISEA, the following activities were undertaken:
• Observed court proceedings involving civilians arrested in relation to the Tak Bai incident and other cases of unwarranted arrests
• Discussed the Southern Thailand situation with local lawyers with regards to the rule of law and the emergency decree
• Provided accompaniment for human rights defenders on advocacy and fact finding trips to southern Thailand
• Initiated and facilitated first meeting of UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Regional Representative Houmayoun Alizadeh with local civil society actors in need of protection
• Raised the awareness of the diplomatic community on the situation in the south and called for their involvement in ensuring due process by observing trials and providing support to protect human rights defenders
• Published a monthly e-newsletter, “Charged!”. A publication which intends to inform the general public about current news and issues regarding the conflict in the South of Thailand. This newsletter will include efforts undertaken by several sectors of society to end the violence through peaceful means as well as success stories and upcoming events. We hope that the information contained in this newsletter will be used in advocacy to respect human rights and to use nonviolent means to resolve the conflict.
Banning landmines and cluster munitions
NISEA has long been involved with the global effort to ban landmines as a weapon that causes unacceptable harm to civilians and therefore is against international humanitarian law. Landmines are indiscriminate, cause excessive unnecessary injury, and remain destructive long after war has ended. For the same reasons, NISEA has also engaged on the campaign to ban cluster munitions. In this area, NISEA carried out the following major activities:
• Conducted research for the Landmine Monitor, focusing on countries that are not state parties to the Mine Ban Treaty—Burma and Singapore. In 2007, NISEA also did research on the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
• Participated and lobbied during in intercessional meetings and meeting of state parties of the Mine Ban Treaty in Geneva as ICBL delegates
• Facilitated and participated in the “Southeast Asia UXO/Mine Action Youth Leadership Workshop 2006” organized by the Australian Network to Ban Landmine and the Laos PDR Youth Union in Vientiane, Laos
• Co-organized and launched the Landmine Monitor Global Mine Action Report and the Landmine Monitor reports for Thailand and Burma
Stopping the use and proliferation of small arms and light weapons
NISEA contributes to efforts to curb the proliferation and indiscriminate use of conventional weapons particularly small arms and light weapons. NISEA contends that the availability of weapons fuels violence leading to a greater number of injuries and death. The following activities sought to contribute towards said goals:
• Participated in the Control Arms Conference in Manila, made a presentation on the Regional overview of the issues and dynamics on the arms control efforts by the East Asian states.
• Coordinated the Million Faces Campaign and took the lead in gathering photos and signatures to support an Arms Trade Treaty. Worked with Amnesty International Thailand and the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace of Thailand on this campaign.
• Organized and conducted a lobbying workshop for regional activists in support of the Arms Trade Treaty in collaboration with Arias Foundation (Costa Rica).
• Set up a photo exhibit on the impact of small arms at the Human Security Symposium in Bangkok and took the opportunity as presentor and participants to raise awareness and call for support for the Arms Trade Treaty.
• Lobbied for the Arms Trade Treaty during the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization meeting in Cebu City
Promoting peace and nonviolence
To promote and move forward towards its goals of a peaceful and a nonviolent society, NISEA conducted research and fora leading to a greater understanding of concepts as well as identification of methods and actions leading towards said goals. In 2006, NISEA was involved in the following:
• Conducted nonviolence training and landmines awareness raising session for ALTSEAN (Alternative Southeast Asian Network for Burma) interns from Burma
• Co-organized and facilitated the Regional Conference/Workshop on Disseminating Peace in Southeast Asia, with the Third World Studies Centre.
• Published Speaking Truth to Power: The Methods of Nonviolent Struggle in Burma
The organization also engaged in relevant international exchanges contributing to the various aspects of understanding and making peace in the region.
• Presented at the regional conference “Peacebuilding in Asia Pacific: The Role of Third Parties” organized by the Institute for Dispute Resolution, Khon Khaen University, Thailand
• Served as resource person in the panel on peace and human rights during the Annual Training and Study Session of Forum-Asia (Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development)
• Participated in the conference “Peace Constituents in Southern Thailand” in Pattani organized by the National University of Singapore and the East-West Centre in Washington
• Participated in “Finding the Path to Peace in Southern Thailand”, a conference at the Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang
• Attended a forum on Freedom of Expression, Bangkok
Capacity Building for Staff
NISEA staff participated in various training and conferences to update their skills and increase their knowledge on areas relevant to their work such as:
• Training on security management, conducted by Peace Brigades International, Bangkok
• Global Researchers Conference for the Landmine Monitor, Phnom Penh
• War Crimes Tribunal Conference, Dhaka
• Advanced Human Rights Course, Mahidol University, Bangkok
• Lobby training on the International Convention Against Enforced Disappearances, organized by Asian Federation Against Enforced Disappearances in Manila
Supporting Regional Advocacy
As part of the Solidarity for Asian Peoples Advocacy (SAPA) network, NISEA participated in a regional conference aimed towards more strategic involvement and maximizing the sharing of resources and participation of the various NGOs in the region in relevant and cross-cutting issues, such as human rights and peace, and in related activities. NISEA also participated in civil society consultations on the ASEAN Charter in Manila.
Hosting internships
NISEA hosted interns who sought to gain experience, acquire knowledge and exposure to local and regional situations, and develop competencies in their own fields of interest that are related to NISEA’s own thrusts and programs. NISEA provided guidance and inputs and administered the internships of
• Amy Schachtman, sponsored by Mines Action Canada, focus area: landmines and networking
• Marie Christine Huard, sponsored by Ploughshares Fund, focus area: small arms and development
• Parinaz Tehrani, sponsored by Human Rights Internet, focus area: information technology particularly website design and development.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 19 June 2007 )
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