Peace Building Awareness Training Provided in Matupi

11 November 2012: Local residents in Matupi town of southern Chin State were given a 5-day training on peace building process from 5-9 November 2012.

About 30 participants, both men and women from civil society and religious organizations, attended the event organized by Kachin-based Shalom Foundation with two trainers, Mr. Naw Pat and Salai Van Chan Ceu.

The ‘Peace Building Awareness Training’ covered a range of topics on peace, conflict, communication, community, civil society and politics in a workshop-style programme.

“Each participant presented their views and understanding of the situation of conflict and peace. Then, the training programme started following a discussion in the group,” said Salai Van Chan Ceu, Chin Coordinator of ‘Another Step to Just Peace’.

Some outcomes from the group discussions highlighted an increase of drug-related problems, environmental destruction and commodity prices while acknowledging a gradual improvement of communication, especially in bigger towns.

The Chin participants also welcomed the preliminary peace talk between the Chin National Front (CNF) and Chin State government in January this year as one of the positive signs toward building peace in the country.

One of the ‘worrying’ points highlighted during the discussions is an ongoing migration of the Chin from Chin State to other parts of Burma and abroad.

“We find the training very informative and helpful. We need more trainings like this,” one Matupi woman participant was quoted as saying.

Salai Van Chan Ceu said that a similar training is scheduled to take place in Hakha town from 13-17 November 2012 in collaboration with the Hakha Baptist Association (HBA).

Founded in May 2000, the Shalom (Nyein) Foundation is committed to working for peace and development for the people of Burma.

Reporting by Thawng Zel Thang
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