Uduak-Abasi Akpabio has written an excellent book about processes that can broker peace, marrying peace theory with peace practice. Making peace is tough, in a world where vast sums of money fuel the makers and users of weapons.
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Honoring my dear friend General Hendrik van der Graaf.
General Henny created and perfected a system of persuading people with firearms to adopt micro-disarmament in exchange for peace and development. General Henny, former member of the Board of UNIDIR – the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research in Geneva - died March 10th 2021 at the age of 88, in his hometown of Eindhoven.
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“Weapon management” is something every American should be able to understand and approve. [In Afghanistan] we moved from “disarmament” into “management,” which meant registration of legal firearms, verification of an owner’s good reputation, checks on safe ammunition storage, etc. While every hunter may need a gun, no hunter needs a “weapon,” which is for war.
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Let it be clear that I am not in favor of chemical weapons, and I am shocked by the death of 1000 people in a suburb of Damascus – whether the sarin gas was used by Assad’s troops or by Al-Qaeda, it is appalling. But I am even more appalled by the deaths of 100,000 Syrians during the civil war of the past two years. How can killing more Syrians using Cruise Missiles, possibly help the situation?
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It is 40 years since President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing created UNIDIR. I work for peace, and I worked for one of my favourite peace organizations: UNIDIR in Geneva, United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research.
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In this book I am telling the story how we disarmed the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia using wit, bluff, and balloons. A fascinating story and a good read for lay-persons and experts alike; the book includes detailed advice for peace practitioners and disarmament experts.
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