tibetans struggle or liberation making ......eritrean diaspora, young kenyans empowering the...

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{ 1 MAKING DEMOCRACY REAL DIALOGUE 2014 }

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MAKING DEMOCRACY REAL DIALOGUE 2014

TREE PLANTING IN REMEMBRANCE OF:

DEATHS IN LEBANON

TIBETANS’ STRUGGLE FOR LIBERATION

Women exploited and then bravely facing their problems

Those killed when speaking ouT when iT was forbidden

Bosnia, Croatia, serBia wars that killed so many

the casualties of partition of the indian subcontinent

Fallen Heroes oF Kenya

Gujarat riots of 2002

Refugees and stateless people

Females unborn

Recent Riots in U.P.

Jews in world war two

Poverty

Half slaves

ImmIgrants

EritrEans in migration

Victims when Japan inVaded china

Iraq and afghan vIctIms from the U.s. occUpatIon

Taiwanese who died fighTing for democracy

Victims of genocide

SomaliS’ Suffering

Roma people with no countRy

all the countries not represented

26 million slaves and child soldiers

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2 } { MAKING DEMOCRACY REAL DIALOGUE 2014

EditorialDrawing out the ExpertiseLaunching the DialogueLeading from the StreetAsef Bayat - University of IllinoisJohn Bond - Sorry Day CommitteeShazia Ilmi - Aam Aadmi PartyEmpowering the MarginalizedWhere the Climate is ToughTibet and DemocracyOpen DialogueFrom Chaos to CommunityUnfastening our SeatbeltsAn Ecology of DemocracyOn Africa - A Letter to South SudanThe Triumphs and Travails of Democracy in AfricaHealing the Memories of PartitionMemory, Justice, HealingRemembering Invisible Victims: A Walk, A Sapling and an Anjali SongSurviving ConflictA Toolkit for DialogueEthics and Justice in GovernanceQualities for PeacemakersFrom Suspicion to ReconciliationIntegrity in LeadershipNext StepsPost Dialogue WorkshopFollow-up in AfricaThe Indian experienceIC Centre for GovernanceFunding & financeInitiatives of Change - from the personal to the global

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CREDITS

Editorial teamAdrian Dan Pop, Adriana Borra, Archana Rao, Gudrun Brøvig Silde, John Bond, Jorulf Brøvig Silde, Ma-hendra Shah, Mike Brown, Ravindra Rao, Usha Gandhi

WritingArchana Rao, Arthur Bassett, Bhisham Mansukhani, Desneige Hallbert, Fatima Hassan, Margaret Hepworth, Hsu Shoufeng, Mayuree Pandit, Ronak Sutaria, Saurabh Gupta, Vipul Shaha, Christoph Spreng, Gulal Salil

InterviewsAbednego Mbindyo Kimathi, Archana Rao, Jean Brown, Mike Mukia, Siddhant Paul, Siddharth Singh

PhotographyAris R. Huang, Astrid Brøvig Silde,Mohammed Ghabriss, Puvaan Jayandren, Parag Shah, Simas Ozolincius

DesignGulal Salil, Simas OzolinciusOpinions expressed are those of the article’s writer.

INDEX

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EDITORIALIt started as a response to the Arab Spring. The first Dialogue on ‘Making Democracy Real’, in January 2012, heard from Egyptians raw from Tahrir Square. Other voices brought the stark reality facing newly-independent South Sudan and reconciliation in post-apartheid South Africa. The second Dialogue, February 2013, heard more voices: a prisoner emerging from 20 years locked up in Myanmar, a Filipino editor facing death threats, a Syrian human rights worker.Since then another reality has become evident in movements for democracy. As the invitation stated: ‘After oppression, struggle. After struggle, victory. After victory, disappointment, even disillusionment’.So this third Dialogue, from 10-14 January 2014, sought to take the dialogue deeper, to look at ‘what went wrong’. The Dialogue was joined by Afghans and Tibetans, the Somali and Eritrean diaspora, young Kenyans empowering the marginalised under their new Constitution, a Congolese senator from the DRC, activists from India’s burgeoning movement for clean governance. There were no ‘speakers’ only ‘dialogue initiators’, each of whom had just seven minutes to make their point (any papers were aired on www.makingdemocracyreal.org). The microphone was passed round the audience, who gave their views, and asked probing questions. ‘Open Sessions’ allowed participants to interact on issues that mattered to them. In the evenings, they gathered for free-flowing discussion in ‘the Chowk’, an outdoor space where anyone could inject a viewpoint. The Dialogue also took other forms: a moving evening of story-telling reached across the political and psychological frontiers between India and Pakistan, and found an overwhelming

longing to get beyond the tragic conflicts. This was followed by a symbolic action of planting a tree to remember forgotten victims around the world, many naming those they wished to be honoured and remembered. The sounds of Asia Plateau’s multitudinous birdlife formed a backdrop to early morning meditations; and the haunting ragas of the sitar and sarangi resonated one evening. Moments of shared silence allowed each to ponder their own integrity in making democracy real. Some had confronted corruption (one politician had turned down a $300,000 bribe); some had repaid taxes. ‘Democracy is the expression of an enlightened conscience,’ said someone. Through it all, the Dialogue took us beyond analysis to action, from campaigning to commitment, reaffirming principles through personal application. As Aung San Suu Kyisaid in her message to the first Dialogue,‘We need to be independent from our own weaknesses […] Shaping our own destiny requires […]a sense of personal responsibility.’Asia Plateau exists for such dialogues. It is open for governments and grass-root groups, business-people and bureaucrats, institutions and individuals, to search together how, through our quality of living and strategic action, we can enable democracy to flourish.

Making Democracy Real organizing team 2014

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DRAWINg OuT ThE EXPERTISEThe Dialogue brought together an immense range of expertise and experience.50 selected participants were invited to lead and inspire dialogue Each main session began with several Dialogue Initiators speaking for up to seven minutes. The other delegates then joined the conversation. A Dialogue Initiator said, “It changed my approach – from a speech to headlines, from details to prominent ideas. I thought it was impossible to say what I wanted within seven minutes but it happened smoothly”. This was not true of everyone, but the practice improved steadily through the days of the Dialogue, and was appreciated. As Lebanese peacemaker,

Assaad Chaftari said, ‘It created a momentum that pushed people to react, ask questions and take an active part in the discussion’.

LAuNChINg ThE DIALOguEDr Ravindra Rao, Asia Plateau Director (India), Hsu Shoufeng, IofC International (Taiwan) and M. K. Kaw, ICCFG (India)welcomed the delegates. The conversation started with two Dialogue Initiators from Myanmar: Al Haj U Aye Lwin reminded that ‘the challenge today is to prove that democracy is not autopia but a reality.’ Than Than Nu, gifted two paintings to the Asia Plateau Centre. Johnny Mack (USA) submitted that democracy can be the means that humans choose to turn chaos into community.Before the audience started interacting, Luc Gnacadja, (Benin)stressed that we need to focus on three pillars to reachdemocracy: people, planet and prosperity.Opening panel: Dr. Ravindra Rao, Maharaj Krishen Kaw, Johnny Mack, Than

Than Nu, Vivek Asrani (Chair), Al-Haj U Aye Lwin, Luc Gnadacja, Hsu Shoufeng

We can’t make democracy real without peace. Teaching hatred is not the solution.

Shabnam Rashid, Architect from Pakistan

“”

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LEADINg FROM ThE STREETIn this session chaired by Rajmohan Gandhi (India), Dialogue

Initiators Asef Bayat (USA), Mireille Fanon Mendes-France (France), Himanshu Bharat (India), John Bond (UK) and Shazia Ilmi (India) spoke about popular movements and democratic

change. In some countries in recent years, mass campaigns have shaken the status quo and sometimes upturned governments.

They have produced hope but also disillusionment. This session asked how street movements could strengthen democracy and

improve governance.

Shazia Ilmi in discussion with delegates

PROF ASEF BAyAT, uNIvERSITy OF

ILLINOIS, uSA

Asef Bayat sees street politics as a necessary

platform where democracy is lacking; it enables the less privileged to speak

directly to the powerful.

JOhN BOND, NATIONAL SORRy DAy COMMITTEE,

AuSTRALIA

John Bond , former Secretary of Australia’s National Sorry Day Committee, described the campaign which enlisted a million people and culminated, ten years later, in Prime Minister Kevin Rudd offering a wholehearted apology to the Aboriginal community for the policies which removed tens of thousands of their children from their families.

ShAZIA ILMI, AAM AADMI PARTy,

INDIA

Shazia Ilmi from the Aam Admi Party

described how a street movement developed

into a political party committed to

overcoming corruption. And how that party, as a result of its surprise

win in elections in Delhi State, caused

major rethinking among established political

parties.

When institutions are absent or ineffective and the authorities simply don’t listen then the street becomes the arena for

dissenting groups. Asef Bayat, professor of sociology, USA

“”

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EMPOWERINg ThE MARgINALIZEDIntroduced by chair Naz Ikramullah (Pakistan/Canada), Mahboba Rawi (Afganistan/Australia) asked how democracy can mean anything to Afghanis when they are thinking of feeding their children. Shabnam Rashid (Pakistan) stressed that empowering should be done by promoting critical conscientious. Usha Malusare (India) shared her story of self emopwerment, despite the village’s pressure. Lul Seymoun (Eritrea/United Kingdom) spoke about refugees, their plight and hopes. Patricia Nellie Njoki (Kenya) explained how helping women understand what the law provide helped them protect themselves. Rahul Bose (India) presented his organization The Foundation (http://www.thefoundation.in/), which promotes education and interaction with other cultures to reduce discrimination.

WhERE ThE CLIMATE IS TOughMany who leave Afghanistan never go back. A few do.In 1984,as

a school girl, Mahboba was forced to flee after leading a demonstration in Kabul. She spent two years in a refugee camp

in Pakistan, following whichh she moved to Australia. In 1992 her son drowned in the sea. As she endured the pain of this loss, she thought of her fellow Afghan women who had lost children,

husbands, fathers in war. She decided then to dedicate herself to the well-being of these widows and orphans. She established an

organization, Mahboba’s Promise mahbobaspromise.org) and for the last 15 years has worked tirelessly for the most vulnerable in Afghanistan. Today she is often described as the mother to a

thousand Afghan children.

Empowerment involves individual change and collective action. When you empower a woman, you empower a nation. My

life is connected to your life, if I am marginalized, you too are marginalized thus the need for collective action for change.

However, it is important to note that empowerment resides in the person, not the helper or social worker.

Patricia Nellie Njoki,

lawyer from Nairobi (Napier 2002).

“

”

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TIBET AND DEMOCRACy

Dhardon Sharling is the youngest member of the Tibet parliament and a women’s activist. A second generation Tibetan born in exile, she grew up in India, and had always had the calling for political action.

Would you say that is because of the sense of community that the democratic process is so important in Tibet?Democracy was the first thing His Holiness the Dali Lama had in mind. The Tibetan democracy lives in our hearts, it is rooted in the foundation of reconciliation, on the principles of peace and non-violence. The sense of belonging, of wanting to achieve things for our country, rings in so strong that it reverberates on the top level. That is why it is a bottom top democracy.

What did you experience here at the Dialogue?I think the first lesson I learnt here was, this is a venue for all individuals, from different cultures, different communities, different beliefs, different political background. It is a significant platform for transforming lives. It felt like a lifetime experience. I think we

have been too Tibet-centric. Today’s narration is – Tibet is China, China is Tibet. Professor Samdong Rinpoche, Former Prime Minister of the Tibetan government in exile said, Tibet is not an idea, it is a noble concept, it’s a hope, it’s the light at the end of a tunnel, it’s a force that blows across seven billion human families. I think it is also time for us to contemplate, look back, engage in some serious introspection. I think that such meetings provide that space.

Any specific encounters that you would like to share?After coming here and listening to people from Somalia, the Middle East, Africa, India, Australia, I realized that problems and conflicts are a part of human life and are not the results of collective karma. I have learnt that for every problem, there is a solution. When we are able not to feel only our pain but the pain of others, our pain gets lighter. It happened with me. I want to take this message across to every Tibetan. I felt that Tibet could be of help, it could be that source of hope, source of inspiration, the source of strength. That was the greatest encounter, a lifetime encounter that I had and thankfully it happened here.

interviewed by Jean Brown

Tibet could be of help […] why not be the source of strength?

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“”

Respect helped me to reach my constituents on a personal level. Without honesty I could not last in politics.

Ali Nur Hussain Ali, Somali MP

OPEN DIALOguESOne afternoon was dedicated to an Open Dialogue with an opportunity for participants not featured in the programme to voice their thoughts and for those whose presentations called for further discussion. The topics were diverse and varied making for an exhilerating and powerful afternoon of liberal dialogue. Above is a snapshot of the topics discussed.

Participants selecting the open dialogues they want to take part in

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uNFASTENINg OuRSEATBELTS ‘Pointe Fixe’ is the French term for the final checks performed by a pilot before the take off of an aircraft. Our Pointe Fixe was held before the first session each day, suggesting that our effectiveness as democracy builders requires a daily checking of all of the workings of our inner life. ‘This is a time to unfasten your seat belts in order to be moved’ said one facilitator, introducing ‘pilot for the day’ Australian Lesley Bryant, with questions to be pondered in a following silence before sharing with their neighbour. However, shared Lesley, there is another sort of silence which hides painful truth. She grew up in a family where her mother kept her Pacific Island ethnicity hidden. When the truth was spoken much healing followed. This discovery led Lesley to connect with a shameful part of Australia’s history. Between 1863 and 1906 over 50,000 labourers were

imported to Australia from islands in the Pacific to work on plantations in slave-like conditions. Lesley spoke of an event to mark 150 years since the first arrivals. Their descendants, along with local authorities and representatives of Aboriginal tribes, acknowledged their painful story and expressed gratitude for their contribution. One woman responded, ‘my family have been in Australia for four generations but I have never felt welcome here until now.’ Each day Dialogue delegates were encouraged to engage with the silence that is not a cover but a reveller, through yoga or in a time of ‘Soul Nurture’ in the gardens. To step out of reactive lifestyles into reflective living, to practice Inner Listening.

Jean Brown

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ON AFRICA - A LETTER TO SOuTh SuDAN Delegates from nine African countries described some of the challenges their countries faced, and invited discussion on strate-gies to meet these challenges. One outcome was a letter to South Sudan leaders taking part in the Addis Ababa peace talks, urging them to ‘solve the current crisis through dialogue and humility, for the preservation of the young democracy.’ The letter was signed by participants from 26 countries.

AN ECOLOgy OF DEMOCRACy A dialogue on the Ecology of Democracy focused on the role of natural resources and the environment in advancing democracy.

The discussion was launched by Farai Maguwu (Zimbabwe), Dr Muna Ismail (Somalia/UK), Senator Moise Nyarugabo

(Democratic Republic of Congo), Luc Gnacadja (Benin), Chris Evans (UK), and Christine Iralu (North East India). It was chaired

by Jorulf Brøvig Silde (Norway). Some of the conclusions from this dialogue were that choices must be made about the use of natural resources; individuals

must take bold steps against corruption; and desertification is not inevitable.

ENMITy, DEMOCRACy, AND RECONCILIATIONNiketu Iralu (Nagaland, India), Dhardon Sharling (Tibet), Assaad Chaftari (Lebanon), Muheiddine Chehab (Lebanon), Osman Jama Ali chaired by Charles Aquilina formed the formidable group of dialogue initiators for this session. Dhardon spoke about the trials of Tibet as a democracy in exile. Niketu Iralu talked about the Naga struggle for reconciliation and sound all round development. Osman Jama Ali, a former Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, spoke about the causes of the 20 years of statelessness in his country, and of the attempts at reconciliation that had at last led to a new government being formed.

FROM ChAOS TO COMMuNITyJohnny Mack and Maneshka Eliatamby, from Communities without Boundaries (USA), challenged participants with probing questions: Where do we go from here: Chaos or Community?; ‘How do we make democracy real?’ and ‘Is the process of democracy violent?’. The group started a dialogue to define violence and agreed that democracy, the end goal, takes time to achieve. ‘Democracy needs a value system’, observed a participant. Then the group discussed the traits needed by democracy to reduce violence. It concluded that ‘Non-violence is a means, whose end is community, where every individual has the opportunity to achieve one’s potential in harmony with the environment.’

Dhardon Sharling speaking about reconciliation

Johnny Mack

Song led by Vinay and Charul 'We are Alive'

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ThE TRIuMPhS AND TRAvAILS OF DEMOCRACy IN AFRICAApart from two or three countries, Africa now accepts that the only way to select leaders is through democratic elections.

Numerous countries have seen the fall of liberation regimes through elections, whilst others have seen smooth transfers of power to new leaders within the liberation regime. In countries with pseudo-democracies such as Angola and Zimbabwe, vibrant pro-democracy movements have sprouted as citizens demand greater freedom and accountable government. The rapid fall of dictators in the Maghreb region during the Arab Spring, though unexpected, scared Africa’s dictators. In Zimbabwe a group of activists were arrested and charged with treason for watching a film of the Arab Spring. Nevertheless, the democratic struggle in Africa faces many hurdles, chief among them poverty. Despite being endowed with vast natural resources, Africa remains the poorest continent with more than half of its people living on less than a dollar a day. African political elites have mortgaged minerals and other natural resources for weapons and political solidarity. Some of the countries most endowed with natural resources, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, are the poorest. Abundant natural wealth, instead of improving human security and happiness, has led to poverty, instability and sometimes civil war.

External factors also undermine African democracy. China has given several African countries military hardware in exchange for mining deals, strengthening dictatorships and accelerating the looting of African wealth. Western companies have also participated in the scramble for African resources through corrupt mining deals which further impoverish Africans and crush their quest for democratic governance.

Nevertheless, the spirit of democracy is steadily spreading across the continent. Even in Swaziland, Africa’s last absolute monarchy, the use of violence against protestors has failed to douse the flames of the struggle for a democratic country. Africa’s struggle for good governance needs the support of citizens of conscience worldwide. Global action is needed to stop the plunder of Africa’s resources and enable this wealth to contribute to genuine peace, development and real democracy.

Farai Maguwu

Africa’s struggle for good governance needs the support of citizens of conscience worldwide.

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hEALINg ThE MEMORIESOF PARTITIONOn 10 August 1947, my uncle said farewell to his father, Dr Badruddin, mother, grandfather, two sisters and the family’s servants for the last time in their home in Jalandhar. Four days later, India was divided.Since none of these people ever made it to Pakistan, it was known that they were lost in the Partition riots. But my father, uncle and surviving aunt never mentioned them. An unspoken vow of silence to enforce the blocking of a dreadful memory.In March 2008, I travelled to India for the first time ever. I met Mahindra, who gave me a graphic account of the final hours of the family. He spoke of the foolish and mean person who was in the forefront of the mob. The narration, seemingly from an eye witness, was very powerful and fast-paced. I had to ask how Mahindra, just fourteen at the time could have been with a mob.The vehemence with which this good man accused me of not listening to him and said that the mean person was his father, completely shook me. It then transpired tha this father had become repentant. In fact, this guilt never left him until he passed away.Mahindra’s father knifed Eidu, the servant, on the roof of the house where my family was hiding. Then, the ring-leaders of the mob forced open the door and killed them all.I knew Mahindra had inherited his father’s guilt of killing long-time neighbours. I knew, too, that his keenness to meet me was his way

of trying to release his soul from the burden of his father’s guilt. I returned three times thereafter to see him.From history, we know that we, the people of the Indian subcontinent, were a peaceful lot. Excavations at Harappa and Mohenjodaro show that warfare and killing did not feature in the lives of our early ancestors.

But somewhere along the way, we lost touch with reality. If the border of Partition had to be drawn, the unseen but very palpable wall of alienation between our two nations could have been avoided. In seven decades, because of this wall, we have drifted apart until we no longer know each other. Since we do not, we are afraid of the other. We need to pull down the wall so that we can look each other in the eye to discover the Mahindras who suffered equally with the children of Dr Badruddin. When we do that, we will know that we are, after all, brothers.The time to demolish the wall has come. It is now.Salman Rashid

We need to pull down the wall so that we can […] discover the Mahindras who suffered equally

with the children of Dr. Badruddin

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REMEMBERINg INvISIBLE vICTIMS: A WALk, A SAPLINg, AND AN ANJALI SONgLate afternoon on Sunday 12 January, all dialogue participants walked together to Grampari, Asia Plateau’s rural and ecological development centre, where Salman Rashid, one of Pakistan’s most admired photographers, planted an Aonla sapling in remembrance of the subcontinent’s unmourned victims of 1947, including several members of his family, the family’s servant Eidu, Eidu’s wife Fatih, and their children, all of whom perished in Jalandhar. One after another, scores of participants then went

up to the planted sapling and sprinkled earth and water in memory of others. Walking back in twilight to the space outside the auditorium, participants lit and raised candles as Vinay Mahajan and Charul Bharwada led everyone in singing their stirring Anjali song, ‘You are Alive.’

Rajmohan Gandhi

MEMORy, JuSTICE, hEALINgOn this very special evening, Rahul Bose, one of India’s most

respected actors and founder of The Foundation, read a moving story, A New Taj Mahal from Mohinder Singh Sarna’s collection

Savage Harvest Stories of Partition. This was followed by Salman Rashid’s deeply affecting sharing of his own experience. The

evening captured and enhanced the mood of the Dialogue, the hope for the future, the necessity for forgiveness,humility and the remembrance of those who have suffered through undemocratic

actions. A lilting tune, sung by Vinay Mahajan and Charul Bharwada set the tone for the evening. This session, moderated by Rajmohan

Gandhi and Archana Rao, provided the backdrop for Anjali, the remembrance walk.

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Rajmohan Gandhi, Salman Rashid, Rahul Bose, Archana Rao

Coincidentally, on 12th January 2014, the Indian Express ran this story.

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/the-dead-who-went-unmourned/%3FSocialMedia

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/the-dead-who-went-unmourned/%3FSocialMedia

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A TOOLkIT FOR DIALOguE Christoph Spreng, Dialogue Hub Coordinator with the Council of Europe, led a workshop on the Dialogue Toolkit developed by the Council’s Conference of International NGOs (INGO). The Toolkit was developed as a response to an intolerable level of human rights infringements in European countries in recent years, largely in implementing policies on diversity and migration. It’s a hands-on concise, user-friendly guide to conducting dialogues with the aim of highlighting human rights and building social cohesion. It can be found at www.dialoguetoolkit.net, and all are welcome to use it.

EThICS AND JuSTICE IN gOvERNANCE

Decentralization has an administrative and civic dimension. Mr M.M. Taimini, Mr M. K. Kaw, Mr Prem Maini and Mr Sunil Kumar

conducted a three day workshop which examined various aspects of governance from the importance of decentralization

to the importance of trust. They discussed the tremendous impact taking responsibility can have on good governance. Using

practical examples, like the Gram Sabha in India, the workshop aimed to examine the most effective means of bringing about

Ethics and Justice In governance. This workshop was followed by a three day training conducted by ICCfG.

QuALITIES FOR PEACEMAkERS This workshop run by Peter Riddell from Britain connected lessons from history with experiences from conflict areas today. How can people play a role as peacemakers? The short-movie “For the Love of Tomorrow” told of a woman from the World War II French Resistance who, after the war, found freedom from her hatred of Germans, and built bridges of trust between France and Germany. Participants from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Eritrea spoke of their own situation. Forgiveness was the one approach all agreed could make a new starting point for peace. The next step, they agreed, was ensuring inclusiveness at every level.

SuRvIvINg CONFLICTMany African countries have known conflict in recent years.

South Sudan is bleeding, Eritrea is under dictatorship and Kenya is still recovering from the 2008 post-election violence.

Chaired by development officer Mercy Shahale (Kenya); Nyok Gor (South Sudan), Ann Njeri Kimanthi (Kenya), Berhane

Woldegabriel (Eritrea) and Khedijah Ali Mohamed-Nur (Eritrea) said that building a democracy needs to start when still in

conflict. Healing the wounds, they said, was key to individual survival and to sustaining democracy.

Afternoon tea

Ethics and Justice in Governance workshop at The Library

Yuji Nakagawa on the Sarangi, Srinivasan Reddy on the Sitar

Workshop at Autralia roon

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FROM SuSPICION TORECONCILIATIONAssaad Chaftari, former Christian militia and Muheiddine Chehab, former Muslim militia, fought each other during the 1975-85 Lebanon civil war. They now work together, reaching out to the young generation, to speak up and promote reconciliation, despite the silent consensus from the authorities.

How did you start your journey towards reconciliation?Assaad: I have done a lot of bad things, all in the name of my religion or my cause. After the war, I found out that Muslims were not too different from me. The ideas I had against them were not true. I apologized publicly, because I felt the generation of my son was going back to the same problems and was inheriting the same prejudices and the same misconception of the others. Muheiddine: When the war ended, I discovered that the conceptions I carried for more than 20 years were totally wrong. Everything we did was wrong. My cousin took me to an IofC meeting. He told me: ‘you will meet there Assaad, your enemy’. First, I didn’t want to go. Then, it was very difficult to shake his hand. It felt as if I was hanging 100 kg. After a few meetings, I found that Assaad was speaking the truth. I decided to put my hand in his hand. It is a moment I do not forget.

You said before that the Lebanese government sponsors ignorance. Could you explain more? Assaad: As far as reconciliation is concerned, nothing governmental have been done in Lebanon. It is very dangerous. Our civil war leaders became political leaders. They have no interest in raising the subject. They think it is healthier, but in fact it is not at all.

What do you say to the youth of Lebanon now?Assaad: That you should not believe anything you hear from your leader. You should check even what your parents are telling you, because it might be the inheritance of the trauma of the past. If you hear something about someone, you’d better check yourself if it is true or not. Try to extend one hand to him and you’ll see that he will extend two hands and embrace you. I say it from a personal experience.

What is your hope for the future of Lebanon?Muheiddine: For all communities to live in peace. We fought each other for what? We were manipulated. We do not want the youth to repeat what we have done. The starting point is reconciliation and forgiveness and to understand one another.

Ethics and Justice in Governance workshop at The Library

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INTEgRITy IN LEADERShIPThe panel chaired by Mike Brown (Australia) offered a kaleidoscope of personal experiences. Political leaders Sonam Tenzin (Tibet) and Ali Nur Hussain Ali (Somalia) illustrated the importance of integrity in politics with examples from their own situations. Graham Turner (UK), Om Bagaria (India) and Suresh and Mala Vazirani (India) shared their experience of how honesty improved relationships within their family and their business. –Siegfried Herzog (Germany) pointed out that we expect our leaders to be excellent in all respects, and are disappointed when they prove themselves fallible. In his view the ethics of leadership boiled down to three points: take responsibility and change something; know when to step aside; answer the call of conscience.

ARChITECTINg A DEMOCRACy ThAT WORkS

The session focused on the mindset which underpins democracy. Sajida and Pervaiz Vandal, professors of architecture from

Pakistan, use their home as a venue to bring together people from many backgrounds to discuss issues of concern. This is one way in which many people can help democracy to flourish. John

Carlisle (UK) urged citizens to involve themselves in basic public service and not to restrict their engagement to elections. Finally,

Barindra Desai (American of Indian origin) pointed out that ecological conditions are such that our very survival depends on

our effectiveness in overcoming human greed.

NEXT STEPSThe final session was led by the young people and chaired by Asia PlateauTrustee Siddharth Singh (India). Dr Maneshka Eliatamby (USA) challenged all participants to work for an end to extreme poverty and to free the 26 million enslaved people across the world. IT expert Ronak Sutaria (India) described how Open Data can strengthen democracy. Vipul Shaha (India) proposed an organic learning movement in place of the current form of schooling. Berekhet Kahsai (Eritrea/UK) outlined ways in which monopolistic governments could be persuaded to move towards pluralism and inclusion. Lawyer Jane Wanjiru Maina (Kenya) spoke about the role of youth and women in keeping their governments accountable.

In the Auditorium

Than Than Nu, Vivek Asrani, Al-Haj U Aye Lwin, Luc Gnacadja , Shoufeg Hsu, Ravindra Rao

Anjali walk to Grampari

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POST DIALOguE WORkShOP32 delegates stayed on for a three days workshop based on the successful training currently conducted by Initiatives of Change Centre for governance for Indian Public Services (Indian Administration Service, Indian Police Service and Indian Railways).

Giving individual attention to each participant, facilitators led sessions on inner governance; relationships; intimate discussions in family groups where participants are able to share their stories; practical workshops like ‘the power of ethical leadership’ and special discussion focused on fighting corruption.

FolloW up in AFriCADelegates from this continent discussed the creation of a forum for governance training, based on the ICCfG principles. ‘I sense we have many things in common with India, regarding culture and a high need at all levels of transformation for human development. ‘ Said Luc Gnacadja

(Benin), former UN Assistant Secretary-General, continuing with ‘the programme has the power to transform people, which can therefore transform their communities and even their nation. This morning, I was part of the programme on Inclusive Leadership. In times where challenges are so complex, we need to tap every stakeholder, every actor’s potential capacity to innovate. In developing countries, this is very much needed. I look forward to asking other people to come to this centre.’

In the Auditorium

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ICCfg

FuNDINg & FINANCE

The IC Centre for Governance is a Non-Profit Educational Trust, launched in 2003 under the auspices of Initiatives of Change, to serve society in all areas related to governance. It works for the highest ethical values in government, and in the non-profit and public sectors. It focuses on effective accountability between citizens, the legislature and the executive. It carries out an extensive program of research into governance practices and has developed legislation to curb corruption. It also conducts training programmes for the Indian Administrative Service.

The Dialogue was largely funded through participants’ contributions. Most participants covered their stay and travel costs, either from their own resources or by raising funds. The Silvia Zuber Fund, Transasia Biomedicals and the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung helped with particular needs, and their support is acknowledged with thanks.

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Initiatives of Change is an international NGO that works to transform the thinking and living of individuals, communities and societies. It believes that each individual can help to tackle the root causes of world problems by first dealing with the fear, hate, greed and indifference in his/her own life., Initiatives of Change upholds a self-reflective approach and values-based living as primary tools towards this.

Asia Plateau, owned by Friends of Moral Re-Armament (India), is an international centre for the work of Initiatives of Change located in Panchgani, a hill station at an altitude of 1300 meters in the state of Maharashtra, India. Training programmes on ethical leadership, seminars and workshops are conducted at Asia Plateau throughout the year.

INITIATIvES OF ChANgE- FROM ThE PERSONAL TO ThE gLOBAL

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Initiatives of Change - India

[email protected](02168) 240004(02168) 240241/240242

ASIA PLATEAu, PANChgANI (412 805)MAhARAShTRA, INDIA

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