Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies

PSPP's team had traveled to Irian Jaya twice this year, but had never before worked outside Indonesia. Our travel to Mindanao was at the request of Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC). CRWRC is a relief and development agency supported by the North American Christian Reformed churches. They have been wanting to increase their peacebuilding work in Mindanao, and worked together with a group of local NGOs to hold the "Mindanao Convergence" at which we offered the workshop "Peace as a Foundation for Development." The object was to offer our style of conflict management workshop focused on how these NGOs and churches could include a specific peacebuilding agenda in their work. The end result was a group of regional plans for collaborative work in peacebuilding. One highlight at this gathering of Christians was a session with officers of the Moro National Liberation Front for some symbolic reconciliation between Christians and Muslims. Another PSPP first was offering this event in English.

Southeast Asia map of PSPP team travels this year. 27405 bytes 450x366	The PSPP team included Damai Teguh, Lucia Dwi Krisnawati and Duane Ruth-Heffelbower. 27434 bytes 400x387	We were supposed to meet in General Santos City, but the ongoing military action against the Abu Sayyaf group on Sulu island nearby made that too dangerous. We moved to Davao City and the newly constructed Marco Polo Hotel. This is the view from the 16th floor. 37155 bytes 448x336	Duane thought it was a nice change to be the member of the team with the best language skills, after working in Indonesian for a year. 24842 bytes 400x300
Damai is coaching a small group. Small group work with the assistance of coaches is an important part of our process. The cameraman behind used one fixed and one roving video camera to tape everything. A new level of documentation for us. 42760 bytes 448x336	This group of about 60 people really got into role playing. 22446 bytes 384x288	Action plans created by geographical groups were quite complex. Follow-up by PSPP is included in them. 46370 bytes 540x488	Reporting on a small group's work. 38768 bytes 299x355
Bishop Efraim Tendero of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (right) and General Faisal Abdurrachman, Davao area military commander of the Moro National Liberation Front (left) made symbolic gestures of reconciliation. 31615 bytes 384x288	Group photo at the time when we were dressed for meeting the MNLF officials. 43395 bytes 540x232