Meeting Rotary Club

Rotary Club of Bangkok South

July 21, 2006 - All participants of the Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program were warmly welcomed by Bangkok South Rotary Club at its meeting at Pan Pacific Hotel, Bangkok.

Conflict in Southern of Thailand

July 21, 2006 - Interested in learning more about the on-going violent conflict in Southern Thailand, the group invited Ms.Preeda Tongchumnum from Law Society of Thailand, Ms.Puttanee Kangkun from Asian Human Rights Commission and Ms.Angkana Neelapaichit, the wife of a well-known missing human rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaichit to speak at the Rotary Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, Chulalongkorn University. The forum also gave participants a chance to reflect what they heard to the conflict and human rights situation in their home countries. They expressed solidarity in promoting human rights in Thailand and will visit the three Southern provinces during 16-22 July 2006 as part of their program curriculum.

Chulalongkorn Radio Station

July 21, 2006 - Participant Col.Terdsak Putson from Thailand gave an interview to Chulalongkorn Radio Station regarding his experience in the Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program. Col.Putson shared his impression on theoretical and cultural exchanging with his classmates who he mentioned are great resource persons for his lessons on conflicts in different area of the region.

Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Participants Orientation
at Rotary Centre in Thailand

The first session of Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program was launched with its orientation at the Rotary Centre in Thailand on 3rd July 2006. The forum brought together Rotarian representatives and 15 program participants from 11 countries across the world.

The orientation was addressed by Chairman-elect, The Rotary Foundation Trustee, Past Rotary International President, Bhichai Rattakul and the program participants were introduced to Rotarians, district counselors, host clubs and staff as well as the Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation’s history, goals and program. The forum also provides opportunity to for program participants to become familiarized with Thai culture and custom through the presentation by the Ministry of Culture representative and open discussion.

Keynote speech by Prof. Vitit Muntarbhorn

The Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program receives a great honor from Prof. Vitit Muntarbhorn from the Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University for his keynote speech “Peace and Conflict: Challenges for the 21st Century” to mark an opening of the program. Prof.Muntarbhorn serves as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Situation of Human Rights in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and recently received UNESCO Prize for Human Rights Education.

Prof.Muntarbhorn addressed peace is not simply an opposite of war but state of mind and behavior. And as important as war and international conflict has its root in the personal and inter-personal level, peace must start with oneself, start young and start at home. Prof.Muntarbhorn encouraged multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural peace education program as a significant means for peace building.

Module 1: Introduction to Conflict (4-14 July 2006)

The first module of the Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program is designed to introduce the participants to concepts and values of conflict and peace. It discusses elicitive method (making peace as participation engagement and development), nature of conflict, root causes and types of conflict, case studies and simulation exercises.

The module is facilitated by Dr.Tom Woodhouse, Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford (UK) and Dr.Chaiyan Ratjchagool from Chaingmai University. The speakers invited for the first module include Dr.Salai Tun Than, a former lecturer of the University of Mandalay and Mr.Tadzrul Tahir Hamzah from a regional human rights organization Forum-Asia.

Participants' Cultural Exchange

The cross-cultural exchange apparently continues outside the class for participants of the Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program as Col.Terdsak Putson from Thailand organized an introductory day tour in Bangkok for his fellow participants. The group spent all day to visit the Grand Palace and Vimanmek Royal Mansion. Participants also visited the Royal Thai Government House, the Marble Temple and Chatuchak Weekend Market.