TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Asians reluctant to seek outside help to solve conflicts, says peacemaker

A peacemaker said the fact that Asians tended to bereluctant to reach out for third-party assistance in conflict resolution remained the greatest challenge that needed to be dealt with

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
Fri, May 31, 2013 Published on May. 31, 2013 Published on 2013-05-31T18:20:16+07:00

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

A

peacemaker said the fact that Asians tended to bereluctant to reach out for third-party assistance in conflict resolution remained the greatest challenge that needed to be dealt with.

Michael Vatikiotis of Geneva-based Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HDC) said that people in the region tended to consider seeking help from foreigners a bad sign as well as humiliating.

He cited the bloody 2004 Southern Thailand conflict as an example when separatists and the Thai military spent six years from 2006 to 2012 in secret talks that came to no avail.

He said the conflicting parties finally reached a peaceful agreement in 2013, but only after inviting Malaysia to mediate.

The HDC was among those that attempted to mediate negotiations between the Indonesian government and the now-defunct Free Aceh Movement (GAM) between 2000 and 2002.(nai/dic)

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Continue in the app

Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.