The recent offer of 'independence' given by Indonesia's president, BJ Habibie, to the people of East Timor has brought a new hope to the people of this beleaguered territory. However, elements in the Indonesian military (ABRI) have not accepted this new initiative and are now attempting to provoke 'Timorese on Timorese' violence in much the same way as the South African Defence Forces did shortly after the release of Nelson Mandela. A small number of East Timorese, who have benefited from the occupation, are now being armed by Indonesian military intelligence. What is needed now is the disarming of these paramilitaries, the withdrawal of ABRI from East Timor and the stationing of a United Nations mission in the territory. The Irish government has offered assistance in this area and Foreign Minister, David Andrews, will soon visit Xanana Gusmao, the leader of the East Timorese people who is currently under house arrest in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. Considered the 'Mandela of East Timor', Xanana is crucial to a just and peaceful settlement of the issue.

You can get in touch with the East Timor Ireland Solidarity Campaign (ETISC) at Room 16, 24-26 Dame Street, Dublin 2. Tel:/Fax: 01-671-9207; Mobile: 087-286-0122; E-mail: etisc@ireland.supports.tp There are also local contacts in Galway, Belfast, Laois and Mayo. Annual subscription to ETISC is £8 (unwaged £4) including Maubere, ETISC's newsletter.

On 4th May, 77 young adults from Belfast, Dublin, England, Scotland, Wales and Japan will depart London for a tour of the UK and Ireland stopping at Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, and London en route to the massive Hague Appeal for Peace Conference (the Hague, 10-16 May). They'll be looking at issues of conflict resolution and peace building, particularly in Northern Ireland but more generally and in the context of each of their stop points. There are still one or two places left or if you want to find out more, get in touch or offer accommodation in Belfast (Wednesday night 5th May); contact Philip Whyte, BCDA, 283 Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 3GG, Tel: 01232-491161, E-mail: philip.whyte@bcda.net In Britain you can contact Peace Boat London c/o National Peace Council, Tel: 0171-226-6513, Fax: 354-0033, E-mail: peacebus@hotmail.com

Corrymeela has completely revamped and upgraded their newsletter to magazine format, now titled Corrymeela Connections and weighing in at 24 pages (A4), to be published three times a year. As well as background reflections on Corrymeela and its work, and on the Northern Ireland situation, each issue will look in detail at one aspect of Corrymeela's work. Corrymeela Connections is sent free to all 'Friends of Corrymeela' (minimum subscription £15). Corrymeela, 8 Upper Crescent, Belfast BT7 1NT, Tel: 01232-325008, Fax: 01232-315385, E-Mail: belfast@corrymeela.org.uk Web: www.corrymeela.org.uk

Corrymeela Link address in Britain is PO Box 4829, Earley, Reading RG6 1XX, Tel: 0118-926-1062.

Corrymeela's annual ministry conference, open to ordained and lay people involved in church ministry, is on Transforming Sectarianism with Joe Liechty and Cecelia Clegg at the Ballycastle Corrymeela Centre from 20th - 22nd April, cost £20.

This is the topical title (meeting set up before the war in Kosovo - Ed) of a public seminar organised by the Programme in International Peace Studies of the Irish School of Ecumenics on Wednesday 28th April at 7.30pm in Bank of Ireland Arts Centre, Foster Place, Dublin 2. All welcome. The main speaker is Prof Ken Booth from the Dept of International Politics, University of Aberstwyth and respondents are Lt-General Gerry McMahon, and Dr Bill McSweeney of ISE, the chair is Noel Dorr.

The Irish School of Ecumenics (ISE) offers (post-grad) courses in Ecumenical Studies and Peace Studies to MPhil or Diploma level (1 year full-time, 2 years part-time, and 3 and 6 month sabbaticals). ISE, Bea House. Milltown Park, Dublin 6. Tel: 01-260-1144. Fax: 260-1158; E-mail: ise.ecum@tcd.ie and ise.peace@tcd.ie

VOICE of Irish Concern for the Environment has called, along with 19 other NGOs, to Minister Noel Dempsey for a wide consensus conference on genetic engineering, similar to ones which have taken place in Norway and France (proposed consultation days provided inadequate representation for NGOs covering environmentalists, doctors, farmers, consumers and food businesses). Meanwhile the Probation Act was applied to six GM (genetically modified) food protesters at New Ross District Court including VOICE patron John Seymour; one other person was bound over to keep the peace. The trial related to an action at Monsanto's trial site in Arthurstown last June. See VOICE website for further details: http://www.iol.ie/~avoice/

Website also has details on Earthday celebrations, 17-25 April. Meanwhile VOICE and the Low Impact Sustainability Group are producing The Sustainable Ireland Source Book for sustainability initiatives in Ireland, north and south, to be launched this summer. It will include over forty different categories and a green business directory. (£5 listing for voluntary groups, advertising space available). VOICE, 14 Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin 2, Tel: 01-661-8123, Fax: 661-81-14, E-mail: avoice@iol.ie

Subscriptions to VOICE: £15 individual, £7.50 unwaged, family: £25, group: £30.

The Mediation Network for Northern Ireland's Transforming Conflict Training course includes conflict awareness, mediation skills and practice and mediative behaviour. The aim is to enable participants to intervene in situations of conflict. The dates for Autumn 1999 and Winter 2000 are as follows:

Course A: 6 & 7 October, 3 & 4 November, 1 & 2 December (all 10.00am-4.30pm).

Course B: 14 & 15 January. 11 & 12 February, 10 & 11 March and 24 & 25 March (Fri. 7.00-9.30pm, Sat. 10.00am-4.30pm). Cost: £100 individuals, £250 per member of organisations. Further information including about £15 non-refundable deposit.

Mediation Network for Northern Ireland, 128A Great Victoria Street. Belfast BT2 7BG. Tel: 01232-438614; Fax: 01232-314430. E-mail: info@mediation-network.org.uk

Meanwhile MNNI has also launched their practitioners' register including grades for individual practitioners (set by a registration board); it is aimed to both help to set standards and to support and provide a progression path for practitioners. Details on request.

The Human Rights Agenda is the title of a public meeting organised by Meath Peace Group at St Columban's College, Dalgan Park, Navan on Monday 26th April at 8 pm. Speakers will include Human Rights Commissioner for Northern Ireland Brice Dickson, and Unionist Assembly member Dermot Nesbitt as well as a couple of others. Queries to Julitta Clancy at Tel: 01-8259438, Fax: 8259261.

The March issue of Just News, the bulletin of the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ), is a tribute to murdered human rights lawyer Rosemary Nelson, who was a member of the CAJ executive committee. CAJ, 45/47 Donegall Street, Belfast BT1 2FG. Tel: 01232-232394, Fax: 01232-246706. Web: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Comm_Admin_Justice/

Most of those receiving this issue of Nonviolent News as a mailing will have enclosed a general information/membership leaflet about the CAJ.

Peace is a human right and the abolition of war is a moral and political challenge for just peace in the 21st century. The end of the cold war provides us with a precious opportunity in this regard. Politicians have major responsibilities towards building a more just and peaceful world but their myopic outlook and tendency to sacrifice dearly held values of a nation for a possible short-term gain could lead to irreversible and major detrimental consequences. Ireland's joining NATO led so-called 'Partnership for Peace' raises these concerns. One should know that NATO did not have a blinding experience as St Paul did on the road to Damascus and thus a change of heart. It has not had a transfiguration as a symbol of world peace. NATO should have demised with its opposite number of the Soviet military bloc but instead is carving out a new role to act selectively, suiting the interest of its member states and without a UN mandate, defying international sensitivities.

It prepares for war, it threatens with war, it fights wars and exports war - how can it talk peace! You cannot have peace on your lips and war in your soul! AFrI and the Irish section of Pax Christi International organised stations of the cross on Good Friday in Dublin attended by over 200 people. The theme challenged NATO led Partnership for Peace reflecting on the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ, the nonviolent Prince of Peace.

Tony D'Costa, Pax Christi Centre, 52 Lr Rathmines Road, Dublin 6, Tel: 01-4965293. AFrI, Grand Canal House, Lr Rathmines Rd, Dublin 6, Tel: 01-4968595.

Innate Networking: The next Belfast networking group meeting will be on Wednesday 21st April at 7.30pm in Quaker House, 7 University Avenue, Belfast. All interested welcome. Queries to Rob at Tel: 01232-647106.