Bernie Concepcion
Zamboanga
City-(August 28,2012) -- An acknowledged Sulu-based local mediation group
on conflict management and settlement recently concluded the Organizational
Development Training workshop held at the Garden Orchids Hotel from Aug,
24-26, 2012 sponsored by the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD).
The
training which aimed to improve and equip the group's performance and effective
approach in settling local existing conflicts in the island province, was given
to members of the Tumikang Sama-Sama, a local mediation group composed of
traditional and community leaders, concerned citizens and respectable mediation
advocates, according to Vand Birowa, Project manager of CHD in an interview
yesterday.
Tumikang
Sama-Sama is one local support group that CHD is assisting in mediation
initiatives and in establishing settlement of clan wars in Sulu.
There
are about 58 existing clan conflicts recorded in Sulu and a considerable number
has been settled thru CHD initiated moves while some of these are being
negotiated at this time, Birowa bared.
The
training has also provided data for CHD to make proper assessment on how to be
able help the local mediators' group in terms of dealing with conflict
management and mediation works, particularly understanding Sulu culture.
At
the same time, the organizer has invited experts as resource persons to give
new inputs on organizational developments and updates on the actual realities
of what are the experiences within the situation on the ground and its
implications.
"A
closer view of the existing and persisting trends of the present prevailing
situation in the locality for effective and efficient mediation works and
strategies were discussed," said Birowa.
Among
the resource persons included a Tausog Professor Julkipli Wadi, of the
University of the Philippines (UP), College of Islamic Studies, who gave
insights on exploring the opportunities and threats inside and outside
Sulu communities and the ARMM region, as factors that affect the mediation and
reconciliatory efforts that should be considered..
He
said the discussions could help CHD in assessing as to what assistance or
support can be extended to the mediation group in dealing with the
uniqueness of the situation as far as conflict is concerned in the
province of Sulu;
Ustadz
Kamaruddin, of the Western Mindanao State University who shared the issues on
self-reliance as a value and good practice widely observed in and within an
existing organization while Mucha Shim Arquiza of Sama Dilaut who discussed the
imperatives for peace in Sulu Island province including historical background
about past and present conflict imperatives for peace in Sulu Island province
including historical background about past and present conflicts.
The
CHD intervenes in building the capacities of the local partners to deal with
effective local conflict monitoring and mediation through right
approaches and to provide them with needed tools and techniques to attain
success in managing as as well as in settling "ridos" or clan feuds,
peculiar particularly in the Muslim-dominated province of Sulu.
Birowa
said, in clan conflicts and ridos local initiated mediation efforts would be
necessary in order to achieve finality in settlement.
"We know
in the international engagements we have life lines, unlike when you own the
problem, so you have to help find solutions to the problem, that's why we (CHD)
are only supporting them (group) to capacitate them through all the possible
trainings we provided to help
them mediate in clan conflicts in Sulu," he explained.
"You
own the problems; therefore you help find your own solution, that's why CHD
supports the local through capability building, Birowa stressed.
Training
on Human Resource Development is also in the offing to be conducted soon,
centering on fund sourcing to make the group self-reliant and sustain their
initiated activities, according to Birowa.
Two
other training workshops attended by the group were also conducted by CHD
concerning mediation issues and principles in April and June this year.
The CHD is a Geneva, Switzerland-based non-government organization (NGO)
established here in the country to help assist in mediation initiatives both
locally and internationally.(faber_concepcion2004@yahoo.com)