Peace, not Weapons

Press Clip Source: PAX
Written By: Alex Virtanen
Date: June 24, 2014
Read Original Article: Here

Unarmed civilian peacekeeping is based on nonviolence. Alex Virtanen writes about his work and experiences with the subject. He is working on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines for an international organisation specialised in unarmed civilian peacekeeping, Nonviolent Peaceforce.

The insecurity in Mindanao – as well as other areas affected by conflict – is largely caused by armed actors. The trust of locals cannot be achieved by carrying arms.

Globally, the trend in armed conflict has unfortunately shown that civilians are the ones who have to face the consequences of war. This is particularly true in the case of prolonged, low-intensity, conflict within national borders, where armed clashes often occur within areas inhabited by the civilian population.

Unlike traditional peacekeeping, the unarmed alternative does not draw its strength from the threat of violence. Nonviolence requires the creation and maintenance of strong ties with communities living in the midst of conflict, who in turn affect the actions of armed movements supported by them. Unarmed peacekeeping is based on dialogue and transparent relationships between the parties to the conflict, as well as local organizations and civilians. Peacekeeping should focus on the protection of civilians. This is easier when the peacekeepers themselves are civilians. Unarmed civilian peacekeeping supports communities with methods for detecting and reducing the threat and consequences of conflict.

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Mindanao is the Philippines' poorest and most vulnerable area. There is a presence of several armed groups competing for power and land ownership. The island has seen over 40 years of civil war between armed movements demanding self-determination or independence for the Muslim minority and the Government of the Philippines. A peace agreement between the government and the country's largest armed movement – the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) – was signed in March 2014. The implementation of the agreement born out of 17 years of negotiations is still in its infancy. On a practical level there remains much to be done, and there may be many stumbling blocks on the way to lasting peace.

In addition to clearing the details in relation to implementing the Peace Agreement, the situation is complicated by the presence of several armed groups falling outside the agreement, as well as political violence and weak governance. Insecurity has been commonplace for civilians living in conflict zones for decades. Among the symptoms of weak human security in Mindanao are: internal displacement, the disruption of livelihoods, limited access to health care and education, the loss of human lives and property, human rights violations as well as development lagging behind the rest of the country.

The role of unarmed civilian peacekeeping in Mindanao is unique, as Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) is officially a part of the peace process. As a member of the International Monitoring Team supervising the ceasefire between the Government of the Philippines and the MILF, we monitor the fulfilment of the commitments of both parties relating to the protection of civilians at the local level.

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The primary role in conflict prevention and reduction belongs to local actors. NP is not in Mindanao to solve conflicts, but to support local peace efforts – whether in the case of a clan dispute at the village level, or in case of broader conflict, for example, between the government and the MILF.

As an independent actor, we conduct shuttle diplomacy at the grassroots level by passing messages between the parties, or by providing a neutral space for dialogue. In our daily work, we support communities and civil society organizations to strengthen structures to prevent, and respond to, conflict. The strengthening of human rights is on the agenda as well. Our support is focused on preventing conflict and minimizing its impact on civilians. Increasing the capacity of local actors through trainings helps communities in responding to conflicts, building their resilience and opportunities for peace-building.

The protection of civilians is central to everything we do. We provide protective presence, as well as the protection of civilians in threatening situations. We provide orientations on human rights, international humanitarian law and protection to parties to the conflict and civilian communities. Our activities also include the identification of the needs of internally displaced persons, as well as linking civilians to relief organizations and other actors. Unlike other international organizations operating in Mindanao, NP has field offices in conflict-affected areas. I am writing from Datu Piang, which has suffered from decades of conflict. Battles here between the Government and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in January and February led to the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians from their homes.

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Based on my experience I can say that unarmed peacekeeping works - at least in the context of Mindanao. I feel that at the local level parties to the conflict listen to us and cooperate more with each other, partly thanks to our work. We are contacted by locals when the safety of civilians is threatened, or when tension between the parties should be addressed. Cooperation with local organizations and communities has increased their confidence in their own resources and the courage to contact armed actors. NP's role in the peace process was also recognized by both the government and the MILF during the signing of the Peace Agreement. Based on my experience international organizations trust us as well.

The question about the safety of unarmed civilian peacekeepers may be raised by the reader. Transparency and acceptance are the cornerstones of our safety, and this applies to both parties to the conflict as well as to the communities in which we live and do our work. The insecurity in Mindanao – as well as other areas affected by conflict – is largely caused by armed actors. The trust of locals cannot be gained by carrying arms. Based on my experience, I believe that unarmed civilian peacekeeping can achieve results in civilian protection. If successful, it also creates space for local peace efforts.