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Current Articles Papua Peace Update (July 2008) Evans Reflections on CTF (July 2008) Courant Plowshares Article (July 2008) Indonesia Seminar 2009 (July 2008) Interfaith Dialogue Initiative (February 2008) Restorative Justice Work (February 2008) Ghost Ranch Workshop (January 2008) Local Training Opportunities (April 2007) Hong Kong/China Seminar 2008 (April 2007) Truth and Friendship Commission Update (January 2007) South Africa Seminar 2007 (January 2007) Aceh Peace Project Prospers (December 2006) Plowshares Celebrates 25th Anniversary (November 2006)

Indonesian Project Progresses
June 2004

The first open, democratic presidential election in Indonesia’s history this coming July highlights the critical importance of Plowshares joint project with Indonesia’s Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, “Human Rights, Democracy and Conflict Transformation:  Addressing the Roots of Terrorism.” A primary goal of this program is to equip some 3,600 senior government and civic leaders with greater awareness of human rights, principles of democratic participation, and skills of conflict transformation and proactive peace building.  

The avenue for this three-year training program is a variety of focused Action Plans and workshops developed by a core group of policy level members of the Ministry staff, university human rights programs, the court system, non-governmental human rights organizations,  police, and military personnel. Plowshares accompanied the first team of delegates to South Africa in November, 2003.

South-South Dynamics: The power of the South-South connection between Indonesia and South Africa became clear from the first days of the two-week Indonesian visit to South Africa. The schedule incorporated dialogue with a range of South African leaders including the Speaker of Parliament; members of the Cabinet; the “head man” of a Cape Flats “informal” settlement; and trainers of human rights, democratic participation and diversity management.  South African consultants, Craig Arendse of Mediation and Transformation Practice and Alison Lazarus, Director of the Senior Government Programme at the Centre for Conflict Resolution, University of Cape Town, led training seminars.   Judo Poerwowidagdo, Director of the Jakarta-based Center for Empowering Peace and Reconciliation co-led the delegation with Bob and Alice Evans of Plowshares staff.

The delegation was very positive about the educational fruits of the experience and the impact of the experience on shaping their Action Plans for Indonesia.  The South African dialogue partners were also positive about the experience, noting that the insightful questions the Indonesian delegates posed challenged them to reflect critically on the first ten years of the new South Africa.  

Action Plans: In February 2004 Plowshares staff consulted individually with the Indonesian delegates on their developing Action Plans and criteria for the second team of policy-makers traveling to South Africa in 2004. The Action Plans include: development of human rights and reconciliation committees in conflicted provinces throughout Indonesia;  a project to promote women’s human rights and improve police response to instances of spouse abuse and rape; a program on children’s education rights; and an education program to promote a free and fair process in Indonesia’s legislative and presidential elections in April and July 2004.  Some of the new programs are already reaping benefits for vulnerable constituencies in Indonesia. Aside from the critical topics and well-conceived Action Plans, Plowshares’ enthusiasm for these programs is based on the participants’ national leverage through the Ministry and their deep commitment to concrete results.

Training Workshops: Also in February, Plowshares staff members led two workshops with our Indonesian Partner organization, the Center for Empowering Reconciliation and peace. One was a “training of trainers” for conflict transformation and the other an intensive four-day case teaching and writing workshop.

These courses produced new teaching designs and approaches for government agencies, religious leaders and NGOs throughout Indonesia and a series of new Indonesian case studies. 

The cases focus on rural provincial issues such as warfare between tribal groups over stolen water buffalo. Reflecting the vast social and cultural differences in Indonesia, these topics are in stark contrast to urban case studies which focus on economic disparity, political disputes, and cross cultural (mis)understanding.    

Next Steps: The second group of Indonesian delegates to South Africa will represent the government, police, military, and civic organizations from major conflict-areas such as Aech and Papua.  Plowshares will design and lead the new delegation’s initial training in Indonesia in September 2004, design the South African program, and accompany the delegates to South Africa in December for extensive dialogue and strategy-planning sessions.

Plowshares celebrates this unique opportunity to work with dedicated partners in strengthening Indonesia’s emerging democracy. 

For more information about Plowshares' ongoing work in Indonesia: Contact Plowshares