First NP Peacekeeper graduates from Rotary Peace Center at International Christian University Japan

Butera Muhamed Mpira, (Medi), Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) returned Peacekeeper Sri Lanka, graduates June 27 from Rotary Peace Center at International Christian University (ICU) in Tokyo, Japan.  He is from Rwanda.

Butera is the first NP peacekeeper to be selected by The Rotary Foundation for this fellowship.  He has completed the 22 months study plus two months of Japanese language training. Upon his graduation, Butera will have a Master’s Degree in Peace and Conflict Resolution from the Graduate Program in Public Policy and Social Research, International Christian University.   

Each year ICU is one of seven universities that host students at the Rotary Peace Centers on full scholarship, fully funded by The Rotary Foundation.  Each of the students agrees to uphold the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Three particular Rotary Clubs and Districts were instrumental in this success.

Butera was endorsed by Rotary Club of Windsor CA, Rotary District 5130.  Their nomination made this possible.

The Kawaguchi Hatogaya Japan Rotary Clubs of Rotary District 2770 mentored Butera during his two years at ICU.  Their friendship helped to sustain Butera during his two years at Rotary Peace Center.

Also significant was his warm support from Masakazu Ishikawa, Rotary host for Butera on numerous occasions in District 2760. Masakazu and Chihoko Ishikawa have been treasured supporters in the Toyohashi South Rotary Club, Japan, hosting events to showcase Nonviolent Peaceforce in that area.

Rotary staff:

Niki Fritz, Emily Ruf and Kathleen O’Brien and their colleague staff members at The Rotary Foundation supported the application process.  Brad Lauman, then Rotary Peace Center Director, invited NP to present at the Bangkok Thailand Peace Symposium, including newly-named Rotary Peace Fellow Butera to be a presenter.

ICU Director Professor Masaki Ina

As a new student at Rotary Peace Center International Christian University, Butera and NP Senior Adviser Ann Frisch presented a seminar for faculty and students at the invitation of Professor Masaki Ina, Director of the ICU Peace Center in November 2012.  In inviting NP to their peace forum, Professor Ina said: “I always strongly believe that peacefulness, grassroots activities and empowerment of people are essential conditions for the international community, national government and civil society.” 

Nonviolent Peaceforce support group in Japan

Butera’s Fellowship thesis:

Butera’s thesis, a research project he conducted during his internship in Uganda, is entitled “The role of producer co-operative business firms in prevention of violence: a violent public-demonstration as a conflict scenario”.  In this study, he explored the role of business cooperatives in halting violent conflict that would likely imperil lives, property, commerce, and worker skills.

According to Butera, the practice of bringing together businesses across conflict lines resonated with his work as Nonviolent Peaceforce peacekeeper in Sri Lanka where he and other peacekeepers brought together Muslims and Tamil shopkeepers to explore how they could interrupt violence in their neighborhood.  

Butera’s previous work:

In 2010, he was part of the NP exploration team in what is now South Sudan, and served as Program and Operations Manager to launch NP work there.

From October 2010- to August 2011 Butera worked with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights as a legal officer in the southern part of Kyrgyzstan that was severely hit by the inter-ethnic civil clashes in June 2010.  Prior work with the UN was in May 2008-June 2009 when he worked with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) as a volunteer International legal officer where he assisted International Judges in the post-civil war criminal trials. He also briefly served with the UNMIK Human Rights Panel in the capacity of a legal officer where he assisted international judges on human rights research applicable law and drafting of various legal documents.

Butera is the first of three NP veteran peacekeepers who have been chosen for this prestigious fellowship.  Ann Frisch, an NP returned peacekeeper and Rotarian herself, along with South Minneapolis Rotarian Michael Cavitt, coordinates the effort to encourage and support NP peace keepers in applying for these fellowships as part of NP’s outreach work with Rotary International.

Butera is looking forward to being back with his wife and children in Kigali, Rwanda