Forum Conference 2009

“Violent conflicts, ceasefires and peace accords
through the lens of indigenous peoples”

Program

Wednesday 21.10
20.00:
Reception at Árdna, the Sámi cultural building located at the University campus, close to “Labyrinten”, The Sámi turf hut and the Administration building.

21.30:
Bus departure from the University to Radisson SAS hotel

Thursday 22.10
Opening of conference

08.30:
Taxi departure from Rica Ishavshotel hotel to the University

08.45-09.15:
Registration, at University Campus, Teorifagbygget, Hus 1, Auditorium 1.

09.15-09.25:
Opening by Deputy Chair Marit Myrvoll, Centre for Sami studies, University of Tromsø .

09.25-09.45:
Opening by Tone Bleie, Chair, Forum for Development Cooperation with Indigenous Peoples: “Violent conflicts, ceasefires and peace accords through the lens of indigenous peoples”

Subthemes 1:
Unknown sufferings: perpetrators and victims of violence and its invisibility
09.45-10.15:
Tonol Murmu, a Santal and the Executive Secretary of AISWACS (All India Santal Welfare and Cultural Society),or Bhanu Rabha. Indigenous leader of AISWACS: “Bodo-Santal conflicts in Assam : The evil designs, silent sufferings and the process of reconciliation”.

10.15-10.45: Discussion.

10.45-11.15: Coffee

11.15-11.45:
Jennifer Hays, Research Fellow in Comparative Indigenous Studies, University of Tromsø : “The Invasion of Nyae Nyae: A case study in on-going aggression against indigenous hunter-gatherers in Namibia”

11.45-12.15:
Robert Hitchcock, Professor from the University of Michigan: “Genocide and Indigenous Peoples” or “The reasons for the escalation of violent conflicts between hunter/gatherers and pastoralists in Southern and Eastern Africa.”

12.15-12.45: Discussion

12.45-13.45: Lunch

13.45-14.15:
Juan Leon, Ambassador of Guatemala in Norway: “Guatemala: The situation of the Maya peoples after the Civil War and Peace agreements.”

14.15-14.30: Discussion

Subthemes 2:
Examining the preconditions for building sustainable peace
14.30-15.00:
Adolphine Byayuwa Muley, Bukavu, South-Kivu: “The killings and lack of attention to Twa/Pygmy groups in both the current fighting (DRC governmental forces – mainly against Hutu militias) and the DDR efforts in the region”.

15.00-15.15: Coffee

15.15-15.45:
Saoudata Aboubacrine, Tin Hinan (Mali): “Les accords de paix entre les mouvements Touarègue et le Mali ”. ‘The peace accords between the Tuareg movements, and the government of Mali” ‘.

15.45-16.15:
Sanjeeb Drong, Bangladesh Adivasi Forum: “Indigenous Peoples of Bangladesh : Invisible war in the Garo Hills and and North-West Bangladesh and non-implementation of the CHT Peace Accord”

16.15-17.00: Discussion

17.15: Bus departure from the University to Radisson SAS hotel

20.00: Dinner at Rica Ishavshotel

Friday 23.10.2009

Subthemes 3:
Norway’s bilateral and multilateral challenges in peacemaking and implementation of accords – Roundtable discussion after introductions

08.30:
Taxi departure from Radisson SAS hotel to the University campus.

09.00-09.45:
Introductions by MFA, NORAD and IWGIA.

09.45 -10.30:
Roundtable discussion by IWGIA, Galdu, Norad, MFA, Centre for Peace Studies at the University of Tromsø and from the present representatives of national indigenous organizations”.

10.30-11.00: Discussion

11.00-11.15: Coffee

Forum update
11.15-11.30:
Fikre Dessalegn, Dilla University (Ethiopia): “Presentation of Dilla University”.

11.30-11.45: Name: “Title”

Summing up
11.45-12.45:
Summing up by Robert Hitchcock, professor,
University of Michigan .

12.45-13.00:
Closure of the Forum Conference 2009

13.00-14.00: Lunch