Module 3 : Week 2

Negotiation and Mediation - This module deepens the participant's understanding of inquiry based bargaining and the role of the mediator. It provides a "mediation" framework and familiarizes the participants with the concepts, skills and strategies necessary to effectively negotiate or act as a neutral third party in conflict situations.



The Speakers - The Speakers for this module are mediation and conflict resolution experts. From left, Jan Sunoo has practiced and taught in this field throughout the US, Germany, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Indonesia, Cambodia and Korea. He is the Chief technical Advisor for the ILO in Vietnam. While Joel Schaffer has been a mediator for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service for 11 years.



Cross-cultural Competency

Module 3 : Week 1

Teamwork Exercise-Tower of Peace - For week one of Module 3-conflict resolution skills, approaches and strategies-the Participants of RPCS Program Class III had lectures and group exercises on communication skills and strategies for conflict management and teamwork. The pictures above show the Tower of Peace exercise.





Civil Society and Conflict Resolution Peace Processes: Aceh and Mindanao Cases - As part of Week One of Module 3, Dr. Kamarulzaman Askandar, the Regional Coordinator of the Southeast Asian Conflict Studies Network lectured on the role of civil society in resolving conflicts and building peaceful societies. Likewise, he used the Aceh and Mindanao cases in understanding peace processes and negotiations. Dr. Askandar specializes in Southeast Asia focusing on issues of peace and conflict in the region with a keen interest in self-determination type conflicts and peace building activities in Aceh (Indonesia), Mindanao (Southern Philippines), and Southern Thailand.

Communication, Conflict and Teamwork - Expert psychologists from Chulalongkorn University were tapped to develop the communication skills of Participants as applied in the area of conflict management. For future conciliators, facilitators, negotiators or mediators, such skills are a most important resource.

Dr. Puntip Sirivunnabood lectured on the management of conflict through improvement of communication strategies and stronger reliance on teamwork. Her expertise is on development psychology, human relations, and contemporary political behavior in the contexts of democratic movements.

Dr Panrapee Suttiwan lectured on the communication process and team building dynamics. She is currently serving as the Associate Dean for Planning and Development at the Faculty of Psychology and Director of the M.A. program in Developmental Psychology at Chulalongkorn University.

Field Study Trip IV : Northern, Thailand

- The RPCS Class III participants went off from their lectures and traveled to Northern Thailand to gain first-hand information and knowledge of the dynamics and impacts of conflict in the Salween River; the social, political and economic conditions in the refugee camps along the Thai-Burmese border; and the spill-over effects of legal and illegal migration of Burmese citizens and ethnic minorities in Northern Thailand.



All about the SALWEEN RIVER - Participants had briefing and discussion with (from left to right) Jeff Rutherford and Paul Sein Twa of Karen Environmental and Social Action, and Green Steve of Images Asia Environment Desk on the effects of the construction of dams along the Salween River upon Karen population and the environment.





Site visit-Baan Tha Ta Fang village - Traveling by long-tail boat along the Salween River, while on their way to the Baan Tha Ta Fang village, the Participants got a view of the site where the proposed dam will be built. Later in the day, they were able to interact with Baan Tha Ta Fang villagers and had a glimpse of their way of life.



Stakeholder interview and discussion - The Participants met other relevant stakeholders of the Salween River dam project. Discussions with stakeholders provided them information on their respective interests, positions and probable influence on the issue.




Thai-Burma border migration and refugee situatio - Veeravut Poomprajit and Jerry Ramos of the Department of Immigration briefed Participants on current migration issues of Burmese citizens

Robert Ho explained UNHCR's role on Burmese refugees and migrants in Thailand



Likewise, Participants were able to discuss with representatives of non-governmental organizations supporting Burmese migrants. From left to right: Igror Michaleczek of the Burmese Migrant Worker Education Committee; Than Doke of the Burma Labor Solidarity Organization and Scott O'Brien of the Karen Teacher Working Group



Visit to cultural sites in Northern Thailand - Images of the Doi Suthep visit in Chiang Mai Province


Visit to Burmese Migrant School - Participants made a visit to Burmese migrant school administered by Burmese Migrant Workers Education Committee (BMWEC) in Mae Sot.




Burmese Political Prisoners seeking refuge in Thailand - Participants met and had dialogue with Burmese political prisoners at headquarters of Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) in Mae Sot.



Mae La Refugee Camp - Participants got a glimpse of the situation inside the refugee camp at Mae La. The camp has more or less 50,000 Burmese refugees and is considered most populated among refugee camps in the Northern Thailand border.




Mae Tao Clinic - The Mae Tao Clinic provides medical services to Burmese migrants who could not avail in local public hospitals. The Rotary Club of Eastern Seaboard supports funding of specific medical cases endorsed by the Clinic for treatment at local hospitals. PP Martin Brands gave Paul Harris Award to ____ and Khun Kanchana Thornton for invaluable humanitarian services rendered to Burmese migrants.

Module 2

Dr. Erik Melander, Associate Professor at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University in Sweden began the week by introducing the methodology of Conflict Mapping. Using a triangle as a model, corner "A" stood for Attitudes and Actors, corner "B" for Behavior, and corner "C" represented Compatibility/ Contradictions. A fourth component was letter "D" within the triangle for "What to do?"

Participants worked together in groups to use the ABC model as a framework for mapping out conflicts in Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Topics included: What are the political, social and economic powers involved? What are the root causes of the needs? Who are the "actors" or "players" in the conflict, and what are the behaviors and dynamics that are surrounding this conflict?

Erik Melander	Surat Horachaikul
Vitoon Viriyasakultorn	Supang Chantavanich/span>

Thai Class

ROTARACT students at Chulalongkorn University volunteer their time to teach the Thai language to (top left) Sumit Mullick of India and Dennis McMahon of the United States (top right) and at bottom row: Russell Vandenbroucke of the United States, Chrisie Wright, Harold Hall, and Naganan Edirisinghe of Sri Lanka.

Module 1

- As the program began, participants presented a Conflict Analysis of their choosing to the entire group. Seen here from left to right are: Simon Milward of the United Kingdom, Pushpika Weerakoon of Sri Lanka, Jennifer Hutchinson of Jamaica, Harold Hall and Pamela Broussard, both of the United States.



From left to right: Milen Peychev of Bulgaria, Nosisa Ncube of Zimbabwe, Rithy Bun of Cambodia, Chrisie Wright of the United Kingdom, and Abdujabbor Kayumov of Tajikistan.



From left to right: Ratchanee Phataisit of Thailand, Cheryl Hebert of Canada, Gryan Prakash of India and Cécile Diatta of Senegal, Anslem Agbonyeme of Nigeria, and Sarin Nhek of Cambodia.



Participants gather around instructors Tom Woodhouse (seated center), Irene Santiago (seated left of Woodhouse), and Deputy Director Tucker McCravy outside the offices of the Rotary Center for Peace and Conflict Studies at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. Woodhouse, Adam Curle Professor in the Department of Peace Studies at Bradford University, and Santiago, CEO of the Mindanao Commission on Women, conducted Module 1 of the course: "The Concepts and Values of Peace and Conflict Studies."

Rotary Orientation

July 2, 2007 - Rotary Orientation for Class III participants in the Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program began at the Rotary Center in Bangkok, Thailand. Topics included the history of Peace Studies programs that are supported by the Rotary Foundation, information on Rotary International, and a celebratory dinner cruise along the Chao Ph raya River.



Dr. Surin Pitsuwan (left), former Foreign Minister of Thailand, spoke about his experience with the peace process in Banda, Aceh province of Indonesia. He was introduced by Dr. Amara Pongsapich (right), Director of the Rotary Center for Peace and Conflict Studies. After the lecture entitled "Effects of Third Party Mediation on Peacebuilding," Dr. Pitsuwan answered questions by Simon Milward and Pushpika Weerakoon.