CPTnet
9 February 2007
AT-TUWANI: More than 100 villagers attend nonviolence workshop

by Janet Benvie

On 6 February, over 150 people gathered in the small South Hebron village of
At-Tuwani for a workshop entitled "Non Violence, Truth, Reconciliation:
Could this be the way?" "So Far So Close," a project funded by the European
Partnership for Peace, sponsored the event and Operation Dove, CPT's partner
organization in At Tuwani, organized it.

More than 100 men, women and children from At Tuwani and the surrounding
villages attended the workshop. Palestinians and internationals from
Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Hebron, joined them.

The day began with an address by South African psychologist Nomfundo Walaza,
who spoke about the importance of nonviolence in the struggle for justice in
her own country. She participated in South Africa's Truth & Reconciliation
Commission from 1996 to 2000 and now lectures at Denver University.

Walaza spoke of some similarities between her own experiences and those of
Palestinians. "I know what it is to live in a divided society; I know of
the pain of being hounded every day; I know of the pain of having to carry
little pieces of paper to be able to move in my land from one area to
another," she told the audience. " I know of the pain of seeing demolition
of houses."

She also spoke about the importance of hope. She said that the fact that so
many of villagers had attended a workshop on nonviolence was a sign of hope.
She acknowledged that it was difficult to have hope when there is so much
suffering. However, she added, "To give up is to let the enemy triumph over
you. Hope is our only salvation."

Because she believes in the importance of passing on a culture of nonviolent
resistance and hope to future generations, she said she was especially
pleased to see so many children in the audience. Nonviolent resistance, she
said, is an important way to maintain one's rights when faced with
oppression. By remaining nonviolent in the struggle for justice, the
oppressed "do not destroy themselves."

Virginia Belijer from 'So Far So Close' closed the morning session by
thanking everyone for attending. The men from the villages spoke with her
about possible future projects to help sustain their livelihoods and support
their nonviolent resistance.

After lunch, Walaza met with women from the villages. The women shared with
her their experiences of violence and harassment from Israeli settlers and
soldiers, and ways in which they resist nonviolently. They talked about the
importance of supporting each other within their communities and about the
value of internationals living alongside them in their village.
Internationals like Walaza, they said, can support them by witnessing to
their oppression around the world.

For photos see:

http://www.cpt.org/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album90