International Peace Mediation Simulation (Session 3)

International Peace Mediation Simulation


Background
The State of Alvia has been involved in an ongoing conflict with a separatist movement, the Markian Freedom Movement (MFM), for the past 40 years. Alvia is a developing country, with a population of approximately 30 million. Markia is a region which lies on the Northwest Alvian coast and has a population of approximately 4 million. Alvia was once a part of a colonial empire but attained independence in the 1970s. Since this time there has been almost constant violence between the MFM and the central government, with the MFM demanding independence for Markia from Alvia. The MFM highlights the differences between the people of Markia and Alvia in their independence claims, focusing on the facts that:
(1) the vast majority of Markians speak Markian, not Alvian, which is the official language of the state, as well as the vernacular of the majority of Alvians
(2) the majority of Alvians practise a different religion from the population of the rest of the state
(3) Markian culture had been highly influenced by traders from other parts of the world when Markia was an important trading centre in the 17th and 18th century, resulting in a different culture emerging in Markia from the rest of the state.

Markia had been quite a poor and underdeveloped region but recently a multinational corporation has been granted a license to explore for oil off its coast. Markia had been granted a certain level of political autonomy and a certain level of freedom in religious affairs by Alvia in an attempt to pacify it since independence, but Alvia has continually highlighted the importance of territorial integrity. Autonomy has not satisfied the MFM and violence between the MFM and the Alvian armed forces has continued.

In the past, the Alvian government had refused to engage in dialogue with the MFM, deeming it to be a terrorist organisation. The government passed laws repressing freedom of expression and freedom of association in an attempt to clamp down on the MFM. The government has resorted to imposing martial law when the violence has escalated on a number of occasions in the past. There have been numerous claims by the MFM that the Alvian military tortured and killed alleged MFM members and terrorised the civilian population, destroying villages and civilian buildings, including schools and churches. Human rights groups also detail MFM violence, aimed at the central government, including the use of landmines and bombs, which sometimes kill civilians.

It is difficult to estimate the membership of the MFM but claims have been made that it is waning in recent times. Its political wing, the Markian Solidarity Party (MSP), has lost support in local elections. A number of peaceful demonstrations for Markian independence have recently been organised by a group called the Independence Party (IP). The party has called on the Alvian government to enter into dialogue on the future of Markia.

The government decided to enter into dialogue with the MFM when they noticed a waning in its support. It did not want the interference of the United Nations or its former colonial master in the dialogue process. Instead it chose an NGO to act as mediator in talks with both the MFM and the IP. Not all members of the MFM were happy to enter the dialogue process.

The following issues are tabled for discussion in the mediation process:

1. Cessation of violence in Markia
2. Disarmament of MFM
3. Demobilisation of Alvian non-organic troops from Markia
4. An investigation into human rights abuses and establishment of a Human Rights Commission / Court
5. Discussion of Markian natural resources
6. Markian Autonomy



Actors
1. MFM
2. MSP
3. IP
4. Alvian government
5. Mediators
6. Background Experts – Culture, Religion, Language etc.
7. Military Experts
8. Legal Experts

Outcome of Simulation Exercise
Production of a mediated agreement on contentious issues

Simulation Exercise
There will be two groups of 15 with Dr Herrberg and Dr Bloomfield acting as advisors. Each will do the same exercise and the mediated agreements will be compared at the end of the session. Within each group there will be people representing the actors in the mediation process, who will use their position papers to influence the process and mediators, who will facilitate the discussion and attempt to come to an agreement.

Stage 1:
Each actor / group should introduce its position and what it expects from mediation process

Stage 2:
The Mediator will introduce the issues that need to be discussed:
1. Cessation of violence in Markia
2. Disarmament of MFM
3. Demobilisation of Alvian non-organic troops from Markia


Stage 3:
Each actor / group will discuss these issues facilitated by mediator

Stage 4:
Mediator proposes agreement on contentious issues

Debrief
The two groups will compare their experiences
• Was mediation possible in this situation?
• What factors influenced the process?
• Did anything hinder the process?
• Has this changed the way they think about mediation?