Mairead Corrigan Maguire durante la seconda conferenza sulla resistenza non violenta a Bil’in : « Nonviolence – The way forward for the human family »
14/03/2008
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Mairead Corrigan Maguire
Mairead Corrigan Maguire is one of the co-founders of the Peace People in Northern Ireland along with Betty Williams and Ciaran McKeown and is its honorary president. Mairead and Betty won the Nobel Peace Prize in l976.
Mairead is an active pacifist passionately commitment to nonviolent social and political change. She believes “When we reject nuclear weapons and war, when we uphold Human Rights and International Law, when we build non-killing, nonviolent societies and world, refusing to kill each other but seeking nonviolent solutions to our problems, then we will have come of age as the human family”. She is active in inter-church and inter-faith organizations and travels to Israel and Palestine to support Mordechai Vanunu.
Her book: The Vision of Peace – Faith and Hope in Northern Ireland was published by Orbis Books, New York (translated into Tamil and Urdu). www.peacepeople.com, email: info@peacepeople.com
Mairead Corrigan Maguire durante la seconda conferenza sulla resistenza non violenta a Bil’in (testo)
Salaam Aleikom, Shalom, my Friends,
I have very happy to be here and I would like to thank the Organizers of this conference for their kind invitation to speak to you. I have chosen to speak on the subject “Nonviolence – the Way forward for the Human Family”. I am deeply conscious that many Palestinians, have committed their lives to working for a nonviolent solution to the Israeli/Palestinian problem, and they are committed to the nonviolent Palestinian resistance movement, to resist the Wall and Israeli occupation. I fully support this movement, as I believe that all forms of nonviolent resistance to the Wall are legal, as the Wall itself contravenes International law, including the International Court of Justice decision in The Hague. I believe the separation Wall is a monument to fear and failed politics. I look forward to joining you in nonviolent resistance at the Wall.
I am aware that there is a strong Palestinian tradition of nonviolent resistance, and your history records that Palestinians responded to the Israeli occupation with a well organized nonviolent resistance movement. I am aware too the risk attached to participating in this movement, as at demonstrations, etc., many are targeted by police and picked up later being ‘charged’ with being at demonstrations and their confessions are used to pick up others that they name under duress, some are Palestinian children, 14 or so. This practice by Israeli security should cease immediately if there is to be any hope for peace. Yet, you continue to struggle in spite of daily hardships, checkpoints, oppression, and humiliation, in trying to do the basic things of life, like getting to work, educating and feeding your children. I believe for many Palestinians daily living is so hard, it is indeed an act of resistance. I thank you all for this. I am honored to join in solidarity with you in your rightful demand for equality, freedom, and the upholding of human dignity through the full implementation of UN resolutions, Human rights and International Laws, which are currently being broken and violated by the Israeli Government. I believe the European Council and all governments of the EU should recognize the Palestinian Government and cancel all economic social and political restrictions which have been placed upon it. The EU Council and Governments of European Union should recognize the opportunity to revive the peace process with Israel and Palestinian Governments.
I fully support and encourage you as you continue to peacefully organize, protest and resist, and to continue building your nonviolent grassroots peoples’ movement which will be the cornerstone of a new Palestine/Israel, and a new Middle East.
I am conscious too that there are many International peace activists here in Bil’in and in the occupied terrorities. The inspirational work of the International Solidarity Movement is well known, and I would like to thank them for their work. I would also like to pay tribute to all peace activists who come from many countries, to join in solidarity and support for those suffering injustice. These activists are people of courage, with hearts of compassion, and they have the wisdom to know an injustice to one is an injustice to all, and must be nonviolently resisted, until justice and peace is established. They pay a high price in stepping out of their comfort zones, into highly militarized, dangerous areas. Sometimes much is asked of them, as in the case of Rachel Corrie, who gave her life protesting the demolition of Palestinian homes by Israeli military. But it is the Rachel’s of this world, who reminds us that we are responsible for each other, and we are interconnected in a mysteriously spiritual and beautiful way. Recognizing this, as the human family, each one of us has to stretch beyond self-interest, or the concern of just our own family, friends, community, religion, culture, nation, and seek ways in which we can help the whole community of life on earth, and protect the earth, our communal home. These courageous people disarmed in mind and hearts, and coming armed with love to serve, in organizations, such as ISM, the Israeli peace movement, Christian peacemakers, Rabbis for human rights and against demolitions of Palestinian homes, Doctors without Borders, and many NGO etc., show us it is possible for each of us to move beyond selfishness, tribalism, nationalism, and identify with the whole human family and the earth itself. This movement of nonviolent people, united in working for justice and equality, and irrespective of nationality or religion, unarmed and willing to take risks protecting civilians in danger, is one of the most hopeful and inspiring movements of our time.
I myself am very hopeful for the future of the Middle East. I first visited Israel/Palestine at the invitation of the Rabbis for Human Rights and against the demolition of Palestinian homes. I stood in the ruins of Palestinian Homes and I sat at the Military Trial of Abu Faiz, a Palestinian father of 13 children, whose only crime was to build a home for his family. Since, then I have returned many times to participate in various ecumenical and peace activities. I also support people here working for a Middle East Nuclear weapons free zone, and the abolition of war. From where do I get my hope? From the people of this place, and those Israeli/Palestinian peace activists who believe passionately that given justice and equality for all its citizens, peace and human security, is possible in this Holy Land. I take hope too from the courage of the young Israeli reservists, who following their conscience; have refused military duty in the territories. (I hope that more British and USA soldiers will follow their conscience and refuse to participate in the continuing USA/UK immoral and illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq, and further unnecessary and illegal wars, so that much continuing unnecessary suffering and death can be avoided.)
But I have watched too those in the resistance movements, who believe justice will only come through violence, and in their frustration,pain and anger, have turned to armed resistance, suicide bombs, etc., Suicide bombs tragically take the life of those who use them, and have taken the lives of many Israeli people, and others, and such actions can never be justified. I would therefore like to appeal to those who use such violence, (including those who use the threat of violence by calling for the destruction of Israel,) to abandon these immoral and illegal methods, and use nonviolent language and means of working for justice and freedom. They can take inspiration, as I do, from the words of Abdul Khaffer Khan,a great nonviolent Muslim leader who demonstrated the power of courageous Islamic nonviolence through the unarmed Servants of God’s army and parallel government to liberate the Pathan people from British colonial rule in India’s North-West Frontier Province (now in Pakistan). Abdul Khaffer Khan, also taught ‘The Holy Prophet Mohammed came into the world and taught us ‘that man is a Muslim who never hurts anyone by word or deed, but who works for the benefit and happiness of God’s creatures. Belief in God is to love one’s fellowmen’.
From our own experience in Northern Ireland, we have learned that violence begets violence, and paramilitarism, militarism, violence, and war, do not solve the problems, but indeed are the cause of much reciprocal violence. We have also learned in Northern Ireland, that when a Government tries to deal with terrorism by curtailment of civil liberties, or by complete disregard and violation of international norms and standards, then this only adds fuel to the pain, anger and fear, and is the cause of much reciprocal violence. If we want justice, peace, and human security, then the means must be consistent with the ends, we must use good means to achieve good ends. This lesson is important both for the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authorities, and all citizens of Israel/Palestine if there is to be real progress towards peace.
I hope you will take inspiration from the peace process in Northern Ireland. We too, in our most recent history, have been in dark places where it seemed injustice and its child of violence was in danger of destroying us. In l976 we were on the brink of civil war, and the cycle of violence seemed impossible to break. Sadly a tragedy happened with the death of my sister Ann’s three young children (Joanne, John and Andrew) in a violent clash between the Irish Republic Army and British Army. Out of this tragedy, there arose a massive grassroots peace movement, demanding an end to violence, and offering nonviolence as a way forward for the Northern Irish people. Many other social movements, and efforts by the civil community, took place to resist violence and demand justice and peace. It was a spontaneous peoples movement. Ordinary people from all walks of life joining in solidarity saying ‘enough is enough’ there is another way of nonviolence to solve our problems. We took our inspiration from Jesus/Gandhi/King arguing that nonviolence is not weak, it is active, powerful, because it comes from the soul and it therefore has the power of truth, and is simply the right thing to do. We refused to carry arms and refused armed protection. Our nonviolence was risky and dangerous, we received death threats, from all sides, our property destroyed, were verbally and physically attacked, but we had the joy of witnessing in the first 6 months of the movement, a 70% decrease in the rate of violence, and the beginning of peace. It was a long, difficult, and dangerous path; often we though things were so bad peace would never come. It took a long time for the message of nonviolence to be heard, but it was finally, and ended up in all inclusive dialogue when the British/Dublin Governments spoke to their enemies through representatives of the paramilitary groups, and all the Political parties. This all inclusive dialogue, eventually lead in l998 to the Good Friday Agreement, then to the historic meeting in March 2007 of Dr. Paisley (Democratic Unionist Party) and Gerry Adams (Sinn Fein)sitting at the same table and agreeing to share power in Northern Ireland on 8th May, 2007 when there will be a devolved Government in Northern Ireland, a Power Sharing executive and an Assembly. Truly miracles do happen, and should give hope to others!
There are many lessons to be learned from the Northern Irish Peace Process, one being that peace is possible, but it takes courageous Political Leadership, and also the civil community to compromise and take risks for peace. Perhaps the most important lesson is a recognition by those in power that militarism, paramilitarism, so-called ‘war on terrorism’ do no solve these deeply complex ethical/political problems, and that nonviolent conflict resolution does work. Here in Israel/Palestine I believe, it will also take a recognition that Israeli security lies not in oppressing the Palestinian people, but in dialogue and negotiations that recognize their right to equality and freedom. I hope the Israeli Government will follow our example in Northern Ireland, and enter unconditional talks with their partners, the Palestinian Authority in order to find solutions together. Peace is possible, if we act justly, accept and celebrate the diversity we encounter, give and accept forgiveness, work to heal the divisions of the past, and above all choose the path of nonkilling and nonviolence, then we can build nonkilling communities and a world civilization with a compassionate heart. Building such communities, starts in our own hearts, in our families, and then reaching out to the other with mercy, compassion and kindness. An important part of building peace is the need for Palestinians and Israelis, in spite of the fear and pain, to reach out to each others in forgiveness, and to build trust. This can only be done by a grassroots people to people contact and the Israeli Government can help this process by removing all restrictions which make it impossible for Israeli/Palestinian people to meet and work together. To build a peace process people must see improvement in their every day lives, through freedom of movement, economic development, etc.,
But there are no quick fixes to peace. It is hard every day struggle to be more peaceful ourselves, and to have the courage to accept diversity and difference, yet all the while listening to others with a deep respect for their perspectives and views no matter how different from our own. Trust building and friendship making are foundation stones for peaceful, democratic societies, and we the people of the world, no matter where we live, must do the work of laying these stones, and building the bridges with our enemies. Here in the Middle East, the task of making friends with your enemies is necessary, in order to open up the long-term possibility for an everlasting peace. As in Northern Ireland, Protestants and Catholics, must become their own best friends and build a shared future together, so too Jews and Arabs must become their own best friends, and build a shared future together. Here, in this Holy land, the three great world Religions, (there are many paths to God) united in their faith and love of Abraham, by working together, can become an ethical and spiritual force for good in the World. These Religions can teach that the holiest thing is the life of a human being and we have no right to kill each other, and are called to love our enemies and love the stranger. Such a clear peace message coming out of the heart of the Holy Land would change the world. But there is an obstacle to peace, and it is fear. We humans are often fearful and anxious, and sometimes we get stuck in the past, feeding our fear and negativity thus destroying our imagination and creativity. In order to overcome this fear let us remember Allah loves each one of us equally, the Kingdom of God lives in every one’s heart, and this connects us as the human family, who need each others’ love and support in the difficult, yet joyous journey of life.
Salaam Aleikum, Shalom, my friends
Grazie a Francesca per le traduzioni