By Pastor Luis L. Aoas
Situational Analysis. No intervention can be intelligently planned until the intervening person or agency has a comprehensive picture of the socio-cultural system in which the conflict is set: peace pact institution, cultural traditions, issue, parties, etc.
3. Communication Skills. The ability to think positively, and to speak the language is essential. Control of emotions and their effect also is essential. Not only are skills of personal presentation required but sills for facilitating communication among disputing parties (or factions within parties) and in communicating truth also are critical.
4.Negotiating. Effective negotiation requires the ability to advocate a consensus-type of decision from both warring tribes.
5. Mediating. Assisting the process of decision-making of the warring tribes requires the ability to facilitate, creating forums for bargaining, arranging meetings, and enabling face-saving.
6. Counseling. Decision-makers in tribal conflicts and crisis situations often need quite good counsel regarding the dilemmas and decisions they face. The skilled and respected intervenor can play this sounding board role with almost any of the parties in a given conflict depending on his level of judiciousness as perceived by the parties, regardless of formal intervention base.
7. Implementing solutions. In the present situation, intervenors often are asked to help shape the details of a solution and ask also to assist in the implementation. Among them are program developments or projects in their own community.
Effective and just conflict intervention requires a combination of (a) uncompromised understanding of cultural power which may weaken the desired consensus-type of decision making, (b) clear perception of the intervenor’s roles, potentials and limitations, and (c) tactfulness on the part of the intervenor in his dealings with people and information.
The strategic sensitivities and technical skills outlined here are best required by highly disciplined persons who understand these points, who have the credibility and the experience to take risk in working for tribal peace pact in conflict situations, and who are willing to learn predominantly in the field rather than in the conference room.
Intervening for Peace
Intervention has come to connote the militaristic actions against the warring tribes. This article has intended to show that intervention is a much broader and more general concept — that it refers to the attempts of third parties to facilitate consensus among the warring tribes. When the desired outcome is sought, active peacemaking becomes a reality.
Skilled Negotiations
It is extremely important that the POC develop negotiators capable of effective negotiation abilities with the different warring tribes in Upper Kalinga. This has not yet been done. Almost every administration puts into the field people without any negotiating experience, people who are full of good will but whose priority is to receive honoraria, and who repeat the same mistakes, even though the record is so rich. It is equally important that the different government agencies coordinate in promoting peace and order in their own offices by serving the people with genuine concern. For without peace and order, progress will be hampered and unnecessary killings will be perpetuated in the Province.
Specific Recommendations for Action
1. POC to support the Bodong Federation to convene another Bodong Conference in Upper Kalinga.
2. POC to launch a Peace Crusade in Upper Kalinga and have dialogue with the people.
3. POC to tie up peacemaking in the implementation of government programs in the different tribes in Kalinga.
4. POC to facilitate coordination of different government agencies and private sectors to help one another in the preservation of Peace and Order in the Province.
5. POC to implement its plans and objectdives aimed at restoring inter-tribal peace. (This may require a change of policies and even amendments to the established S.O.P.
6. POC to identify and use capable regional tribal leaders to help in the restoration of severed peace pacts.**
