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"Peace is to be made with your enemies" and other lessons to be learned...
This is the message of Father Alec Reid, Irish international peace envoy, who was remembered at the European Free Alliance peace conference held in Bilbao, Basque Country on April 19th 2007. The Northern Ireland peace process, which Father Alec Reid has taken an active part in over the years and who is now involved in the Basque peace process, was shown up to be an example of what could be achieved in conflict ridden societies, if peace is truly the objective.
The conference – A Time for Peace – consisted of a panel of guest speakers who were invited to relate their experiences of peace activities in different European nations. The panel was made up of Begona Errazti (Basque Member of the Spanish Parliament), Pere Pietri, Bernat Joan I Mari (Catalan MEP), Sean Farren (Executive Chair of the SDLP in the north of Ireland) and was Chaired by Nelly Maes (President of the European Free Alliance).
The conference was also attended by Celtic League General Secretary, Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, in his capacity as President of the European Free Alliance Youth(EFAy). The panellists have all had varying degrees of input and influence in the different and often troubled peace processes in the different nations represented, namely Corsica, Basque Country and Northern Ireland. The message however was clear – peace cannot be achieved without the full participation of all those involved, talk should always take precedence over violence and that peace often cannot be achieved without external support.
The peace process in the Basque Country, since last year's announcement of a ceasefire by the Basque separatist group ETA, ran into trouble with the Spanish Popular Party (PP), who have tried to use their influence to block talks with ETA and Batasuna (who some believe are the political expression of ETA). Begona Errazti, Eusko Alkartasuna MP, explained that on the one hand the Spanish right are telling these groups that violence is not an option and that they must follow the political process, while on the other they are being denied a part in that very process with the banning of their political parties.
In spite of attempts by the Spanish right wing to stop the Basque peace conflict from being debated at the European Parliament, it managed to do so with the help of the international community last year in the shape of the Basque Friendship Group. This group was jointly led by Catalan Bernat Joan I Mari, one of the panellists at the conference. The European Parliament debate about the Basque conflict mirrored the one that was held about the conflict in Northern Ireland some years ago. Mr Farren highlighted the good work that the international community and the Irish diaspora have done in applying pressure to the UK and Irish Government's to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
It was agreed that all three conflicts – Northern Ireland, Basque Country and Corsica – are and should be recognised as political conflicts. In Corsica the French Government, despite some very rare concessions in the last few years to give increased autonomy to the country, still tries to deny the reality that there is a political conflict there and believes that the solution is just to stop the violence or to blame it on the mafia. However, one lesson that can be learnt from all three situations is that violence will not go away without mature and consistent political discussion with all those involved.
Luckily Northern Ireland is for the first time in many years looking towards a peaceful future. Next month will see the full resumption of the Stormont Assembly Government and with it a much hoped for sustainable peaceful process, leading, many hope, to a unified Ireland. There are many lessons to be learned from the successful resolution of conflicts throughout the world and even though no one situation is the same there are still nevertheless similarities, especially within Europe . Unfortunately though there are many political conflicts that remain at state level and go largely hidden to the rest of the world, until violence erupts. It is obvious though, especially in today's Europe that force should not be an option.
Gwynfor Evans (who was a prominent figure in the early years of the Celtic League) in his Alex Wood Memorial Lecture in 1973 said that popular social change can only come about through the expression of "will, not force". He went on to say:
"...if I thought that violence could ever be justified in the pursuit of any social objective, it would be to secure freedom and full nationhood for Wales...but even this noble cause, on which the survival of the Welsh nation depends, does not in my view justify the use of violence."
It is indeed a shame on Europe that these above mentioned conflicts continue to exist and that the Northern Ireland conflict lasted so long. Let us hope that this century will see the successful peaceful resolution of all of Europe´s political conflicts, not least those that are still apparent in the Celtic countries.
(Report compiled for Celtic News by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot Celtic League General Secretary and President of EFAy)
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
25/04/07
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