M.MAS 1/12/17 “Everyone from [the village] is making a living from farming. No one has a comfortable life. There are no rich people, no businesspeople. There are no businesspeople in the village or the surrounding area. If conflict were to occur, everybody’s livelihoods would be affected. Not only that village, but also the villages around it would be in trouble.”37 The civil society leader believed that it was this desire to avoid a destructive conflict that motivated the villagers to support him in conducting the negotiations. Interviewees also believed that government authorities were willing to negotiate because they were worried about the case getting out of hand: “The [local] authorities were worried that the case would become bigger. There has never been a case like this before [in the area]. The situation could really deteriorate as a result of this case.”38 Case study 4 The events This case also involves cattle slaughter in a village in an area where a group of Buddhists had recently purchased the permit for the activity. Among the group controlling cow slaughter were monks (some affiliated with Ma Ba Tha) and laypeople affiliated with Ma Ba Tha, some of whom also work with local CSOs. Before Eid, Muslims reported the number of cows they were planning to kill on Eid to the group. The group did not grant them permission to kill cows. According to the interviewees, the refusal to grant permission led to a very tense situation in the village. Muslims then went and guarded the mosque and people began to gather outside the mosque, so the police went to that area as well. CSOs in the area found out about the rising tensions from their community-based networks, including those in the village, and got involved to negotiate with the monks and the Muslim religious leaders. These CSOs work on various issues including the environment, education, substitute fuels, and healthcare. They met in the administrative office of the village. The CSOs told the authorities that the Muslims have always killed cows, and that it is a religious obligation for them. They also advised the authorities to give the Muslims permission to kill 100 cows, a compromise number which was less than they had originally requested. Then they spoke to the Muslims, who agreed to this number. The son of the Muslim religious leader, who does humanitarian work and with whom the CSOs have a relationship, represented the Muslim community in the negotiations. He agreed on their behalf to this reduced number, and promised that there would be no protests against the reduced number. The group controlling cattle slaughter also agreed to give permission. Interviewees’ analysis Interviewees identified two key factors in resolving the case. First was the perceived close relationships and networks among CSOs, which have become very strong and influential in the area. The CSOs that got involved in this case are working on different issues and they have a good relationship with the local religious leaders. One interviewee said that, “[The CSOs] are a big group and strong. They are united if something happens. They do not do bad things. Some of them understand the law and they are good.” 39 It seems clear that the high standing of the CSOs allowed them to play a crucial mediating role. In addition, some of the CSO members are also part of the group that controls cow slaughter and of the area Ma Ba Tha network. While this may seem surprising, the networks of Ma Ba Tha and related groups 37 Male, 28 years old, Buddhist, local resident. Male, 38 years old, Buddhist, local CSO leader. 39 Female, 31 years old, Christian, local activist. 38 13/24