Reconciliation within nations.

• Author: Manchan, James R.

On the 17th of May 1995, I called upon the then Secretary-General of the United Nations, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, and told him that the time had come for the formation of a pro-active institute for the promotion of national reconciliation within nations.

After listening to me, the Secretary-General thought that the idea was a great one. But who would fired it? "Perhaps", he said, "the best things would be for you to first promote a Forum for the promotion of national reconciliation within nations, on the premise that even a 'journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step'."

In today's world, wars mostly happen within States and not between States. Thus, peace has acquired a new definition and meaning, namely, that it must be considered as the outcome of successful policies for development and democracy.

Experience has also taught us that "first past the post" - democracy per se - does not necessarily bring peace and stability, and that the concept of "non interference" in internal affairs has too often been the excuse for perpetuating feuds and internal strifes within many sadly divided nations.

The policy of national reconciliation must be considered by one and all as a major part of the new dimension of security, something fitting well within the framework of a democracy that is meaningful and which recognizes that at the end of the day stability is the prerequisite for development, progress and prosperity.

In this post-cold-war period, we must accept the fact that people across the globe are yearning for security of life, not so much for peace across the borders, but mostly within States, through the eradication of hunger, homelessness, crime, fear, traditional dislike and historical enmity.

And it is in response to their cries, the process of national reconciliation must be given active consideration as a battle worth fighting for and imperative for national construction or reconstruction.

Ideally, we must ultimately create an institute for national reconciliation between and within nations, which would be able to look at the source of conflicts and attempt to resolve them through...