[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 85 (Friday, June 18, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7053-S7054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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  (At the request of Mr. Reid, the following statement was ordered to 
be printed in the Record.)

                      NATIONAL PEACE ESSAY CONTEST

 Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I am honored today to present to 
my colleagues in the Senate an essay by Adam Hofer of Rapid City, SD. 
Adam is a student at St. Thomas More High School, and he has been 
awarded first place in the annual National Peace Essay Contest for 
South Dakota. ``Rebuilding Societies After Conflict'' examines how 
postconflict states transition to free elections, develop a national 
constitution, and incorporate demobilized soldiers into society. By 
using the case studies of Nicaragua and Mozambique, Adam deftly 
illustrates the importance of all three factors in a nation's 
transition to peace following civil war. I commend his essay to my 
colleagues' attention. I ask consent that Adam Hofer's essay be printed 
in the Record.
  The material follows.

                  Rebuilding Societies After Conflict

                            (By Adam Hofer)

       The Greek philosopher Aristotle noted, ``It is more 
     difficult to organize peace than to win a war; but the fruits 
     of victory will be lost if the peace is not organized.'' This 
     idea of organization as central to lasting peace is as 
     applicable today as it was over 2000 years ago. Yet, the 
     question remains as to the means by which peace efforts 
     should be organized. In the twentieth century, post-war 
     countries like Nicaragua and Mozambique strove to organize 
     peaceful, reconstructed nations. An analysis of the post-
     conflict reconstruction methods used in these countries shows 
     that free elections, a national constitution, and the 
     reintegration of demobilized soldiers are necessary 
     conditions that must be incorporated for a post-conflict 
     reconstruction program to achieve the stability and 
     reconciliation necessary for lasting peace.
       In Nicaragua, several developments led to the end of almost 
     a decade of civil war between the Sandinista government of 
     Nicaragua and members of the Nicaraguan Resistance known as 
     the Contras. The initial spark to end the violence was a 
     negotiated stalemate between the two factions that occurred 
     because foreign military support to both sides discontinued. 
     The military stalemate gave Nicaragua the opportunity to sign 
     a regional plan for peace in Central America, known as the 
     Arias Plan, in 1987. Apart from bringing a negotiated cease-
     fire and national reconciliation, the Arias plan also paved 
     the way for the 1989 free national elections in Nicaragua. 
     The national elections resulted in the Sandinista 
     government's losing to Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, the 
     candidate of the opposition party. Led by a leader committed 
     to a democratic government and national reconciliation, 
     Nicaragua had finally stepped out of the Cold War spotlight 
     and was ready to begin its reconstruction process.
       The reconstruction process in Nicaragua that began 
     following the recent civil war is still evident in the 
     country today. Years of conflict in Nicaragua had given the 
     country a need for many elements of reconstruction, one being 
     the country's security. Nicaragua acknowledged that the 
     social reintegration of demobilized soldiers was essential to 
     establishing security and beginning reconstruction. With the 
     help of international organizations such as Network for 
     Peace, many former soldiers were successfully reintegrated 
     and became active models of reconciliation and peace for the 
     Nicaraguan society.
       Efforts in rebuilding the governance and economy of 
     Nicaragua continue to be key elements in sustaining peace as 
     well. Organizing Nicaragua's government after peace involved 
     the creation of a constitutional democracy. This type of 
     democracy incorporated representation from both sides of the 
     conflict, ensuring that the decisions of the government did 
     not re-ignite the issues from the past conflict. The new 
     government also created the freedom for Nicaragua's economy 
     to begin development. An economic plan ``for regional 
     cooperation in trade, financing, investment, and 
     production,'' as well as the benefit of ongoing foreign 
     assistance generated economic development in Nicaragua. This 
     reorganization of the government and economy has helped the 
     country become more stable and has inclined its citizens 
     towards reconciliation.
       It is not by chance that the conflicts of Nicaragua's civil 
     war have not re-ignited; their reconciliation is a direct 
     result of the organized means of post-conflict 
     reconstruction. Nicaragua obtained a national sense of 
     security by organizing the demobilization and reintegration 
     of many soldiers from both the Contra and Sandinista armies. 
     The government, rooted in a national constitution, achieved 
     stability and gave the country a solid foundation for 
     recovery.
       Mozambique's successful transition from a warring country 
     to a peaceful nation is comparable to that of Nicaragua. Like 
     Nicaragua, Mozambique experienced an internal conflict, a 
     civil war that was between the Frelimo Government and the 
     Renamo, or National Resistance Movement in Mozambique. 
     Conflict ended in Mozambique in 1992, and the country's 
     efforts of reconstruction continue today.
       The opportunity for peace in Mozambique came in 1983 when 
     the president of the ruling Frelimo government accepted the 
     failure of socialism and recognized the need for reform. The 
     government was unable to control a country that had already 
     suffered about one million deaths from civil war. This 
     acceptance eventually led to the enactment of a national 
     constitution in 1992. The constitution ``provided for a 
     multi-party political system, market-based economy, and free 
     elections.'' These elements provided by the national 
     constitution led to peace negotiations between the two 
     factions and the beginnings of governmental and economical 
     reconstruction in Mozambiue.
       The ``social fabric'' and ``economic infrastructure'' of 
     Mozambique had been greatly disrupted by the 17 years of 
     civil strife. A sense of security in the country was an 
     important and immediate need. The reconstruction began with a 
     United Nations' program for transitioning destructive 
     soldiers into productive citizens. These efforts of 
     reintegration and demobilization were so successful that the 
     demilitarized soldiers were soon helping remove the 
     approximately one million landmines still present from the 
     country's civil war. During the first 5 years following 
     peace, ``more than 6.5 billion in international aid flowed 
     into Mozambique * * * most of which went to 
     demilitarization and demining, infrastructure and capacity 
     strengthening, and poverty reduction.''

[[Page S7054]]

     These international efforts to rebuild Mozambique's 
     security set the stage for the rest of the country's post-
     war reconstruction process.
       Reconstruction of Mozambique's economy began as the nation 
     became more secure. Since much of Mozambique was drought-
     stricken and strewn with landmines, the agriculturally based 
     economy relied greatly on international aid at the onset of 
     peace. Fortunately, a more independent economy was soon 
     underway as many landmines were removed, and good rains 
     resulted in Mozambique's first bountiful harvest in years. 
     This economic stabilization was felt throughout the country 
     and encouraged a more suitable environment for reconciliation 
     to occur.
       The unique cultural elements of Mozambique also proved 
     helpful in reorganizing and rebuilding the country. Since 
     Mozambique's people had ``little history of religious 
     fundamentalism, warlords, or ethnic conflict,'' the 
     reconstruction efforts faced less resistance. Also, local 
     healers used traditional rituals to emphasize ``social 
     precautions for retaining a well functioning society.'' In 
     these ways, the naturally existing cultural unity of 
     Mozambique helped the citizens to put the past conflicts 
     aside and to focus on rebuilding their country.
       The reconstruction efforts that have taken place in 
     Mozambique have been successful in sustaining this country's 
     peace. One significant reason is that most members of the 
     former Renamo guerrilla army have become responsible 
     citizens. This successful reintegration has caused a peaceful 
     attitude to filter throughout the nation and has brought 
     confidence that violence will not re-ignite. The national 
     constitution and developing economy provided Mozambique with 
     stability and promoted national reconciliation, aiding the 
     transition from war to peace.
       Evaluating the successful methods used in the 
     reconstruction of Nicaragua and Mozambique reveals the 
     necessary conditions for successful post-conflict 
     reconstruction in any country. Free national elections secure 
     a legitimate governing body and are an essential condition 
     for a stable society. Such elections ensure that citizens are 
     able to choose a leader who reflects their ideals and who can 
     administer with majority support. A national election and an 
     appropriate transfer of power should be organized almost 
     immediately following any conflict.
       Anoter essential condition of post-conflict reconstruction, 
     aimed at achieving a stable society, is the establishment of 
     a national constitution. Representatives from all of the 
     country's territories should cooperate to develop a 
     constitution that addresses the political, economical, and 
     social needs of the country. This diverse representation will 
     guarantee that these elements are unbiased and endow the 
     citizens with their proper rights and responsibilities. 
     Treated justly, the citizens will be more willing to 
     reconcile former conflicts and unite to maintain peace in 
     their country.
       The final condition to achieve stability is reconciliation 
     through the reintegration of ex-combatants. The traumas 
     experienced by the soldiers during the conflict must be 
     treated by local or international agencies at the on-set of 
     peace. The ex-combatants, reconciled from the conflict, can 
     become responsible citizens of their society. Upon successful 
     reintegration, the ex-combatants will serve as examples to 
     their communities and cause a contagious effect of 
     reconciliation to permeate the country. This reconciliation, 
     like that in Nicaragua and Mozambique, will prompt former 
     soldiers and citizens from both sides of the conflict to 
     contribute to a reconstruction process that will lead the 
     country toward stability and lasting peace.
       Thus, the means of the post-conflict reconstruction used in 
     Nicaragua and Mozambique can serve as examples for other 
     countries trying to reconcile and stabilize to organize 
     lasting peace. Although some aspects of the reconstruction 
     process will be unique to individual post-conflict countries, 
     it is crucial that a reconstruction program incorporate free 
     elections, a national constitution, and the reintegration of 
     demobilized soldiers for the post-conflict efforts to result 
     in a stable society. These elements, integrated into any 
     country's post-conflict reconstruction program, lead to 
     lasting peace and stability because they provide the citizens 
     with justice through a legitimate governing body and the 
     conditions for social, political, and economical 
     reconciliation.


                              Bibliography

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                            Internet Sources

       Crawfurd, Jacob. ``Mozambique.'' The Crawfurd Homepage. 
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