October 2005
Election Observers Needed in Sri Lanka in November
Here’s an opportunity to participate in our peacekeeping work in Sri Lanka!
Nonviolent Peaceforce Sri Lanka Partner “Peoples Action for Free and Fair Elections” (PAFFREL) has issued a call for foreign election observers to assist with the upcoming Presidential Election called for 17 November 2005.
If you are able to fund (or fundraise) your airfare to Sri Lanka, PAFFREL will take care of your logistics and expenses in Sri Lanka to be an election observer from 11 (arrival day) November to 20 (departure day) November. This will be an excellent time to work as election observers alongside the NP Field Team Members who are working to reduce violence and promote peace and justice in Sri Lanka after over 20 years of civil war. For election observers from the Global South, PAFFREL has agreed to partially support the international travel, if needed, for up to five Observers (up to around $700/each). The choice whom to support this way will be made by PAFFREL.
Election Observers must have a high degree of intercultural flexibility and sophistication. The accommodations will be modest and language barriers with your Sri Lankan colleagues could be significant. Plans will be in a state of change as the time surrounding the elections is often plagued by violence and ambiguity. PAFFREL will be responsible for training, housing, food, transportation and identification/accreditation.
If you are interested in exploring this invitation further, please contact:
Kingsley Rodrigo
Executive Director
PAFFREL
93/10, Dutugemunu Street
Colombo 6, Sri Lanka
Tel: (94 11) 282 4425, (94 11) 281 8675, (94) 115 557010-13
Fax: (94) 115 557012
E-mail: paffrel@sltnet.lk
http://www.lankaworld.com/paffrel/
Please indicate that you are connected with Nonviolent Peaceforce.
Welcome New Sri Lanka Project Staff
Marcel Smits has joined our Sri Lanka Team as Project Director. He replaces William Knox who has accepted a position with another organization in Sri Lanka.
Marcel is of Dutch origin and has worked in Europe, the US, Latin America and South Asia. As the former Executive Director of the Forum on Early Warning and Early Response (FEWER), he directed the offices of the network in London, Nairobi and Moscow. In this capacity, he supervised the conflict analysis and response activities in the Caucasus, West Africa and the Great Lakes region and advocated the use of conflict sensitive approaches to development, peace building and humanitarian assistance. Marcel is co-founder of the Institute for International Mediation and Conflict Resolution (IIMCR) in Washington D.C. For eight years, he conducted strategic planning and developed and managed IIMCR’s negotiation and mediation skills training and conflict resolution programs. He led field missions to Nepal and Sri Lanka where he facilitated processes for dialogue and capacity development, and he coordinated a refugee crisis management program in collaboration with the UNHCR in the Caribbean. Marcel was part of the The Hague Initiative conducted by the Conflict Management Group in Boston and the Clingendael Institute in The Netherlands. Prior to moving to Sri Lanka, he consulted for several academic institutions on issues related to peace and justice. In his spare time, he serves as an advisor for the Centre for International Development and Conflict Management on NGO network management in fragile states and he is member of the International Consortium for Conflict Prevention. He holds a BA in Political Science and Public Administration from the Institute of European Studies at The Hague University and speaks Dutch, English, French and German.
He writes to you: “I have been impressed with the extraordinary efforts by the Nonviolent Peaceforce and believe it is one of the most exiting and important endeavors in conflict prevention today. NP’s courageous and committed members serve as a force-multiplier in developing nonviolent approaches to conflict. I am very enthusiastic to join the team in Sri Lanka and look forward to building on your valuable but challenging work in the country. It will be an honor to bring my expertise and experience to further the mission of NP.”
We are also pleased to note that Field Team Member Angela Pinchero from Canada has been promoted to Programme Manager. Angela has served for two years as one of the pioneer team members of the Pilot Project. Prior to joining NP, Angela was a policy analyst for the federal government of Canada and a local community activist in Ottawa. She has actively worked on environmental, economic and social justice issues at the grassroots level. This included work with NOWAR/PAIX, a community network of groups and individuals who actively oppose war; racist attacks on minority, immigrant and refugee populations in Canada; and the general erosion of civil rights.
Eldred de Klerk has been hired as our Team Manager in Sri Lanka. Coming from South Africa, Eldred is a trained conflict resolution facilitator and practitioner with an interest in community safety and policing.
He writes to you: “I, like so many Africans,” am a product of the legacy of struggle and sacrifice for a changed political, economic and social dispensation throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. My life has been blessed with countless opportunities to engage with brilliant and talented individuals in endeavours throughout Africa and beyond. These experiences have informed my commitment and work in the areas of peacemaking, peace building and institutional transformation. I have had a particular interest in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) that has seen me involved in policy formulation, training and development, community building, human rights advocacy, and in community and political mediation and conflict resolution facilitation throughout the region. I have learned much from the collective wisdom and insights of many dedicated, skilled and gifted individuals in Somalia, Kenya, Germany, the United States, England, Northern Ireland, and other locations. NP offers the opportunity to begin to institutionalise a model to be emulated by the United Nations, the European and African Unions, and others.”
These three join Colombo staff of Deputy Director Jan Passion (USA), Accountant Priyaneel Wijekularatne (Sri Lanka), and Assistant Team Manager Ayomi Miriyagalla (Sri Lanka). We are very fortunate to have such a talented group!
GuluWalk for Uganda’s Night Commuter Children on Oct 22
On October 22nd, at least 32 cities around the world will host GuluWalks in unison with the 40,000 "night commuter" children of northern Uganda who trek up to 12 kilometers every night and morning from camps for the displaced into the relative safety of town centers in the region.
GuluWalk Day is an international movement initiated by two Canadians which aims to raise awareness and show support for the ‘night commuters’ and child victims of northern Uganda’s 19-year civil war. NP supporters are encouraged to participate in this event and in doing so spread the word about Nonviolent Peaceforce, civilian unarmed peacekeeping, and our potential role in reducing violence in this area.
Please let us know if you plan to participate and/or would like to connect with other NP supporters in your area. You can order Nonviolent Peaceforce t-shirts from the San Francisco Bay Area chapter. If there is not a walk in your city you can organize one.
Peace Bond Design Contest Entries Due in January
Nonviolent Peaceforce announces a campaign with long lasting effects on making our world more peaceful. The 1st annual Peace Bond Design Competition, open to adults and students K-12 worldwide, seeks original artwork, ideas, and designs that promote and advocate for peace. Selected artwork will be featured on the new 2006 Series A Peace Bonds and the designers will receive international recognition and a trip for an award presentation and exhibition. You can help further the mission of NP by participating in this unique competition. Please e-mail any friends, family, students, artists and other organizations that also may be interested. Click here for complete rules and details. Entries are due January 20, 2006.
New Issue of Rumors of Peace available
Our latest print newsletter was mailed last week to U.S. addresses. If you did not receive a copy click here to download from the website. Click here to sign up for our U.S. mailing list. Rumors of Peace is mailed 3 times annually.
The latest Rumors of Peace is available on our website. Click here to download. We are seeking a volunteer to put the French text in layout form using Quark 4.0 design software.
Thank you for your continued support.