Rumiko Seya, Secretary General of the Japan Center for Conflict Prevention

Conflict and persistent violence / Limited security for the private citizen.

It's been a while since we last wrote anything, hasn't it. Since then, the stunning Beijing Olympics have come and gone, and a few incidents of war and peace also linger in the memory.

Rumiko Seya

Born in Gunma Prefecture in 1977. Graduated from Chuo University and received an MA in Conflict Resolution from the University of Bradford in the UK. Specialist in post-conflict peacebuilding and reintegration of ex-combatants into society. In the past she held various positions in conflict areas, such as NGO staff (Rwanda), UN volunteer (Sierra Leone), Special Assistant to the Ambassador (Japanese Embassy, Afghanistan), and UN Peacekeeping Operations staff (Côte d'Ivoire). She became Secretary General of the JCCP in April 2007.

JCCP's website http://www.jccp.gr.jp/

In August, Russia and Georgia went to war. Also, a Japanese NGO staff member who was working for reconstruction in Afghanistan was kidnapped and killed.

In this issue, let's think about what can be done in concrete terms in order to bring about conditions in which people can begin to live in safety despite being surrounded by persistent conflict and violence.

In conditions of civil war or war between neighboring countries, the first requirement is that a there be a ceasefire so that the safety of non-combatants can be guaranteed. Conflicts can sometimes be resolved through discussions, or in some cases the United Nations and international forces can be dispatched. (Whether or not it is possible to build peace through the deployment of military force is an issue that I would like to touch on after this series is over.).

The cessation of hostilities does not necessarily mean that law and order is instantly restored or that people can live in safety. A country weakened by war might find itself under attack from a different country. Also, in the immediate postwar period, houses, factories and roads are still in a state of destruction and people are unable to support their families because they are out of work and so a lot of people suffer deep anxiety about their daily lives and the future.

In many cases, during the first phase of reconstruction after a war, neither government nor local administration is fully functioning. Soldiers who participated in the conflict and assailants are left unpunished and arms used in the conflict are left uncollected.

Staff working for the United Nations discuss the improvement of security with militiamen in Western Afghanistan. (Photo by Rumiko Seya, November 2004)

For instance, in the Southeast of Afghanistan, there are many traditional tribal groups and armed militias such as the Taliban. Even the forces of the international coalition cannot penetrate deep into the mountains and remote areas because those areas are so dangerous. Local residents and villagers have to protect their villages and families from attacks and other incidents and have no choice but to arm themselves. It is a fact of life that there are many people who cannot rely on others to protect them when they come under attack.

Let's compare the situation in zones of conflict to that of our own country, Japan. Although recently several atrocious crimes have been committed even here in Japan, in comparison with other countries and zones of conflict, public order is maintained. Why is that so?

Why is that that things similar to those that happen in Afghanistan don't happen in Japan? If you were present during a similar kind of incident or attack, how would you ensure your own safety?

The English word, 'security' does not only mean safety for each one of us on an individual level, but also refers to the construction of safety systems on a national level on behalf of citizens and people as a whole. When we compare Afghanistan and other war zones to Japan, it would be good if we gave some thought to the kind of security system that Japan has put in place to protect its people and what kind of new security system might be worth pursuing in recent areas of conflict.