Conflict Resolution in Southern Africa

From: Charles Ross [chross@iafrica.com] Sent: 01 April 2009 04:12 PM To: De Beer Kallie Subject: RE: a new contact Good Day Prof Sorry for not getting back earlier. I have studied the overview of the proposed book and it certainly covers very interesting topics. The conduct of war fighting has changed dramatically with the advent of the cellular phone, even in areas such as the DRC and Burundi and to a lesser degree in Darfur. The utilization of this technology in support of conflict resolution and even the prevention of conflict is obviously something that could be exploited given the expansion of the cellular phone technology in Africa. Our own experiences in the DRC where the technology was initially only available in Kinshasa is an example of this. Soon after the launch of phase 2 of the MONUC deployment the technology spread to the outlaying areas allowing our deployed personnel to phone home on their cellular phones. At the same time rebel groups acquired the same technology and were able to improve their own communication. What are the chances that rebel groups could acquire the technology to block out a specific area by either destroying the towers of by using some or other jamming device? Towers are not guarded and should the need arise to guard these it will be manpower intensive which may not guarantee continuous service. The use of the radio and television has been documented and the message being distributed will depend on who controls the radio or television station. While the pen remains more powerful that the sword, getting the pen to the people who needs it will remain a challenge given that rebel groups may not take kindly to such a idea resulting in a terror campaign which will see the local population losing interest of giving in to the demands of the rebel group(s). I assume that Chapter 3 : Trends in Conflict Resolution in Southern Africa is your focus and the intervention operation by SADC into Lesotho is a good case study. While it is further away the developments in the Great Lakes Region, with specific reference to Burundi and the DRC, will also provide some interesting material for the chapter. The South African involvement in Burundi with regard mediation is documented to a degree. The DRC remains a hot spot and it solution, especially in the East, remains a political one. What do they do with the FDLR? President Kabila recently said “peace before justice”. Is this the way? Prof I trust that have added some value and if you need further info please get back to me. Yours Aye Charles Ross -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Kallie De Beer [mailto:kbeer@cut.ac.za] Sent: 25 March 2009 12:11 PM To: chross Subject: RE: a new contact Dear Charles Thank you. Please see what you can figure out what exactly are the Canadians looking for... Have a nice day. Kallie -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Charles Ross [mailto:chross@iafrica.com] Sent: 25 March 2009 10:15 AM To: 'Tanyss Munro'; De Beer Kallie Subject: RE: a new contact Good Morning Prof Thanks for the e-mail and the overview of the book. We spoke on the telephone a number of years ago when the Technikon presented the United Nations Distance Education courses. I have since obtained the United Nations Certificate of Training in Peace Support Operations (COTIPSO). The first South African to achieve this. Give me a do or so to study the overview and I will get back to you. Yours Aye Charles Ross -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Tanyss Munro [mailto:tmunro@col.org] Sent: 24 March 2009 05:30 PM To: Kallie De Beer Cc: chross Subject: RE: a new contact Dear Kallie, I hadn’t noticed his name earlier – too bad he never responded. Charles Ross may be a good person to involve as well – although it would be good if we were getting input from people who have worked outside of formal education, as well. Let us see as well what this person from Channel Africa comes up with and then discuss what we can do. I think I can make a case for $1,500 for the chapter, but don’t think I will be able to go beyond that at all, so we will discuss what to do once we hear back from people. Thanks for doing all this networking, Kallie. Warm regards, Tanyss From: Kallie De Beer [mailto:kbeer@cut.ac.za] Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 8:24 AM To: Tanyss Munro Cc: chross Subject: RE: a new contact Dear Tanyss I already gave the name of Anthony Trowbridge through to our SA Institute for DE and Open Leaning, however, no trace so far. In the meantime I established contact with Charles Ross, a former officer in the South African Defence College who was very much involved in peacekeeping curricula etc.. May be he could be interested either to contribute to or to edit our chapter. With regards Kallie. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Tanyss Munro [mailto:tmunro@col.org] Sent: 23 March 2009 11:05 PM To: De Beer Kallie Subject: a new contact Dear Kallie, I was speaking with my colleague Paul West, who you know, and he mentioned that there is someone who would probably know best about the existence of any ODL used in peacekeeping in South Africa. His name is Anthony Trowbridge, an older British fellow. Do you know him? If you are willing to talk to him, we could extend a contract to him in the amount of $500 to add an ODL component to your chapter. His tendency will be to write far too much, but if we make it very clear what we are looking for (on the ground experience, lessons learned, approaches and anything about impact), it could curb that. I await your response. Tanyss Tanyss Munro, PhD Governance Commonwealth of Learning Suite 2300, 1055 West Hastings Street, Vancouver BC V6E 2E9 Canada PH: +1.604.775.8270 FAX: +1.604.775.8210 WEB: www.col.org E-MAIL: tmunro@col.org ----------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail is subjected to the disclaimer that can be viewed at: * http://www.cut.ac.za/www/disclaimer/email_disclaimer ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail is subjected to the disclaimer that can be viewed at: * http://www.cut.ac.za/www/disclaimer/email_disclaimer -----------------------------------------------------------------