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	Over 150,000 join Rally for Anti-Violence, Solidarity in Oslo by AFP, Reuters & agencies Norway   July 26, 2011   Over 150,000 join Rally for Anti-Violence, Solidarity in Oslo. (AFP)   As many as 150,000 Norwegians poured onto Oslo"s streets on Monday, raising a sea of flower-bearing hands into the air in memory of the 76 victims of last week"s twin bombing and shooting attacks. "We"re here to show that we"re an open-spirited and respectful society," said Roy Kvatningen.   Norwegian television showed images of similar gatherings taking place in other cities across the country after a call for people to show solidarity with those killed in Friday"s bombing and mass shooting.   Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg then addressed the crowd, in a city of 600,000 people, saying: "Evil can kill a person but it cannot kill a people."   The mayor of Oslo, Fabian Stang, said: "We will punish the guilty. The punishment will be more generosity, more tolerance, more democracy."   Central Oslo streets were closed to traffic because of the vigil. "We came out of solidarity, to all be together and share our pain," said Tone Mari Steinmoen, 36. "This is a time of important communion for our country."   "We"re here to show that we"re an open-spirited and respectful society," said Roy Kvatningen, 37, who came with his six-year-old daughter."And to support the victims," added his friend, Ger.   The crowd is united in grief, but there is no visible sign of anger towards the self-confessed perpetrator of the worst massacre in Norway since World War II, Anders Behring Breivik.   "We have no feelings about him. He"s not our concern, we"re here for our country, for the victims, for their families, not for him," said Benedicte Larodd, 26.   Norwegian media put the turnout at 150,000. In any event, the gathering is the largest in Oslo in living memory. The crowd repeatedly raised their flower-bearing hands in the air, while a singer sang the Norwegian anti-Nazi hymn "For Youth" at the end of a short commemorative concert.   July 2011   Amid Tears, a Shaken Norway Mourns.   OSLO — Sunday was a day of remembrance and self-examination for Norway, a small country shaken by the massacre of at least 93 of its people, many of them children, by one of its own.   The people came to a memorial service in the Oslo Cathedral. Long lines of people of all ages and colors waited patiently and quietly, some of them crying, to lay flowers or light candles at the spreading blanket of bouquets in front of the cathedral.   There were church services all over Norway on Sunday. At the Oslo Cathedral, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, who knew many of the dead, said, “We are crying with you, we feel for you.” The brief period since the killings “feels like an eternity — hours and days and nights filled with shock and angst and weeping,” he said. “Each and every one of those who has left us is a tragedy,” Mr. Stoltenberg added. “Together, it is a national tragedy.”   Outside, among the mourners, Tured Mong, a pensioner, said she drove 40 miles with her husband to bring flowers from her garden and a candle she wanted to light. “I only want to lay them down here,” Ms. Mong said. “I am sorry for all the parents waiting to find some news who don’t know about their children.”   Another mourner, Evy Andersen, from Oslo, brought a sunflower from her garden. “I have a niece who has been to this camp twice, and she has many friends who are missing,” she said. “She is wondering about them. I did this for her and for myself.”   There were also many mourners who were immigrants or children of mixed race. Le Lemeo, a refugee from Vietnam 21 years ago, said: “Norway helped the Vietnamese people to come here. They were very welcoming.” Mr. Le said he was a well-known sushi chef here. “I have a job and a family, and I wanted to come,” he said. “It is very sad for all the young people.”   Marina Heier, 15, is the product of a Norwegian mother and a South African father; she was born here and is a native Norwegian speaker as well as fluent in English. She, too, brought flowers from her garden. “It’s important that everyone in Norway stands together,” Marina said. “This is a reminder of the danger of hatred.”   Norwegian social commentator Tobjorn Holt said last night: “The nation is in shock. We are quiet, low-key people who don’t like fuss. That way of life’s been rocked to its core but I hope it will survive. We are resilient.   “We will endure and emerge stronger. The worst of it is that this attack struck at our best and brightest. The teenagers killed symbolised our future. But we will pull together.”   Tobjorn, 47, head of London’s Norwegian Church and Seamen’s Mission, added: “This is the worst deliberate atrocity we have seen since World War Two. There is some small comfort this looks to be the act of a sole agent.   “That the man responsible is Norwegian – to be attacked from within – is hard to absorb and cope with. But the Prime Minister and youth group leader have both echoed the sentiments of most Norwegians. We must – and will – meet terror with more democracy, not less. We must not lock up Norwegian society. That would be piling tragedy upon tragedy.” Visit the related web page
	Timor-Leste: Making peace not on one day but everyday by Renée Larivière Interpeace Director of Programme Development   21 September 2011   Last week Timor-Leste’s newest ‘Peace House’ was already packed out. More than 500 people came to be part of the inauguration ceremony of the Baucau ‘Peace House’.   The building stands proud in the centre of Baucau, a city which has been badly damaged during the outbreaks of violence that swept the country after independence. Even six years ago, it would have been difficult to believe the day’s event could be possible. But the Baucau ‘Peace House’ is laying the foundation for not simply making peace on one day, but on everyday.   President Ramos-Horta unveiled the plaque as part of ceremony where ‘tradition’ and ‘modernity’ united. Symbolism provided the focus of the event as older generations participated side by side, with younger Timorese. One of the world’s newest countries, Timor-Leste has one of the youngest populations.   Over 900 Timorese, had taken part in a nationwide dialogue on the obstacles that stand in the way of peace. Participants, from all levels and sectors of society, felt that ‘Peace Houses’ would make a significant difference. They would provide a space for residents to meet peacefully and resolve differences and find solutions.   They felt any new Peace house should be based on the tradition of Fatin Nahe-biti, or mat meeting place. It would lay the foundations for lasting peace within and between communities.   “The creation of these ‘Peace Houses’ provides an alternative channel for conflict resolution. It enables the Timorese people to seek a peaceful solution to conflict.   The ‘Peace Houses’ will provide a location where participants feel secure and are able to speak openly and honestly about their grievances and collectively identify solutions.” says Renée Larivière, Interpeace Director of Programme Development. She adds, “The turn out today and the enthusiasm that surrounds the ‘Peace House’ project is evidence of how the international community can help empower the local people so that they can craft solutions that work for them.” Visit the related web page
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