Rotary International: Building a Global Army for Peace

RPCS participant Richelieu Allison (Liberia) has his article "Rotary International: Building a Global Army for Peace" published in Pattaya Mail (Vol.14 No.39, Sep. 29 - Oct. 5, 2006).

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Lost Brothers of the Thais: Tais of Assam

RPCS participant Dr.Rajib Handique (India) has his second article "Lost Brothers of the Thais: Tais of Assam" published in Pattaya Mail (Vol.14 No.36, Sep. 8 - 14, 2006) and Chaingmai Mail (Vol.5 No.37, Sep 9, 2006).

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Public Seminar: The Quest for Peace

September 21, 2006 - The Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program concludes its first session at the Public Seminar "The Quest for Peace" at the Conference Room of Chulalongkorn Auditorium. The seminar highlights presentations of RPCS conflict tracking commissions on Israel-Palestine, Southern Thailand and Mindanao of the Philippines.

The program also receives a great honor from John Paul Lederach, Professor of International Peacebuilding at Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies for his keynote speech "Moral Imagination and Peace in the 21st Century." Prof.John Paul Lederach is internationally recognized with his experience in the field of conciliation and mediation.

Past Rotary International President Bhichai Rattakul arrived at the Public Seminar.		(on stage, from left) A.S.James Hosannah (India), Richelieu Allison (Liberia), Zelie Pollon (USA/France), Vilaysack Thongkhamhan (Laos) and Dr.Abhay Pathak (India) make their presentation "Israel-Palestine: Seizing the Moment for Peace".
(from left) Petchara Pliensiri (Thailand), Omini Acharya (Nepal), Matias Ninkov (Argentina), Dr.Rajib Handique (India) and Thevananth Thevanayagam (Sri Lanka) share with audience their findings and recommendation on "Conflict in Southern Thailand: The Periphery Strikes Back".		John Paul Lederach (fourth from left) with (from left) commissioner Col.Prakash Tewari (India), Dohyun Kim (Korea), Raveendra Pathiranage (Sri Lanka), Pol.Lt.Col.Terdsak Putson (Thailand) after their presentation "Mindanao: Quo Vadis (Where to)?".
John Paul Lederach addresses his keynote speech "Moral Imagination and Peace in the 21st Century".		Past Rotary International President Bhichai Rattakul presents a token of appreciation to keynote speaker John Paul Lederach.
Director of the Rotary Center for Peace and Conflict Studies Dr.Amara Pongsapich, Prof.John Paul Lederach and Past Rotary International President Bhichai Rattakul (seated in the middle) with participants, lecturers and Rotarians at the closing of public seminar.

Participants' leisure time in Krabi

Some of RPCS participants and staff stayed a few days back in Krabi after the third field study trip in Southern Thailand. The group endlessly explored the natural beauty beaches and islands of the Andaman Sea.

(clockwise) Duangporn Marksiri (staff), Dohyun Kim (Korea), Cpt.Danilo Estranero (Philippines) and Chayanit Poonyarat (staff) at Tup Island.		(standing from left) Col.Prakash Tewari (India), Duangporn Marksiri (staff), Dohyun Kim (Korea), Petchara Pliensiri (Thailand), Dr.Rajib Handique (India), Cpt.Danilo Estranero (Philippines), Matias Ninkov (Argentina) and Chayanit Poonyarat (staff) at Phi Phi Island .
(clockwise from second row) Dohyun Kim, Col.Prakash Tewari, Petchara Pliensiri, Duangporn Marksiri, Danilo Estranero, Dr.Rajib Handique, Chayanit Poonyarat and Matias Ninkov at Tup Island.		Tiger fish in the cystal clear water at Tup Island.
Chayanit Poonyarat, Dohyun Kim and Duangporn Marksiri enjoyed fish feeding at Tup Island.		Dohyun Kim, Cpt.Danilo Estranero, Duangporn Marksiri and Chayanit Poonyarat swam with friendly fish at Chicken Island.
(clockwise from front) Dr.Rajib Handique, Matias Ninkov, Chayanit Poonyarat, Col.Prakash Tewari, Cpt.Danilo Estranero, Duangporn Marksiri and Dohyun Kim on the boat to the famous Maya Beach.		(clockwise from left) Dohyun Kim, Dr.Rajib Handique, Col.Prakash Tewari and Cpt. Danilo Estranero on the boat at Pileh Bay.
(from left) Duangporn Marksiri, Dr.Rajib Handique, Cpt.Danilo Estranero, Petchara Pliensiri, Col.Prakash Tewari, Matias Ninkov and Dohyun Kim with their boatmen back at Ao Nang, Krabi.

Module 4 l Transforming Conflict: Building a Sustainable Peace

The last (fourth) module of the Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program highlights topics such as cross-cultural conflict resolution, interfaith and intra-faith dialogue, reconciliation, capacity and network building, peace education, gender and peacebuilding and truth commissions.

The module is facilitated by Dr.Mark Tamthai (Payup University, Thailand) and Lawrence Surendra (Centre for Research in Environment, Innovations, Technology and Trade in India). The speakers invited for the module are Dr.Imtiyaz Yusuf (Assumption University, Thailand), Mr.Soth Plai Ngam (Alliance for Conflict Transformation, Cambodia), Mr.Chaiwat Thirapantu (Civicnet Institute, Thailand), Ms.Naree Charoenponpiriya (Peace Information Center, Thailand), Ms.Pippa Curwen (Burmese Relief Center, Thailand) and Dr.Chaiwat Satha-Anand (Thammasat University, Bangkok).

Dr.Mark Tamthai played his well-written piece for RPCS participants reflecting cultural dimension of peace and conflict.		Mr.Soth Plai Ngam at his lecture on reconciliation citing the case study of Cambodia.
Mr.Chaiwat Thirapantu led the discussion at the RPCS Peace Cafe.		Dr.Lawrence Surendra disccused about peace education and sustaining culture of peace.
Ms.Naree Charoenponpiriya told stories of violence victims in Southern Thailand on her lecture on gender and peacebuilding.		Ms.Pippa Curwen highlighted the works of Burma Relief Center in her presentation on gender and peacebuilding.
Dr.Chaiwat Satha-Anand and Dr.Amara Pongsapich (in the middle) with participants and staff at the Rotary Center for Peace and Conflict Studies.		Dr.Imtiyaz Yusuf (standing, fourth from right) and Director of the Rotary Center for Peace and Conflict Studies Dr.Amara Pongsapich (standing, fourth from left) with RPCS participants after his session on inter-faith and intra-faith dialogue.