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Shane Barter

Shane Barter

Intern 2003-04

With CAPI from May, 2003 - December, 2003

Accreditations: BA (UVic), MA (UBC)

Shane Barter, a UVic graduate, worked as the Program Officer with the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development in Bangkok, Thailand.  He was a participant in CAPI's 2003-04 Internship Program funded by the Centre.

After his placement ended in December 2003, Forum-Asia brought him back to finish a book project on the Aceh conflict. From there, he was picked up by the Carter Center for the 2004 Indonesian Elections.  Closer to home, he has worked with Vancouver’s Acehnese refugee population and organized tsunami relief projects. He has also worked for the Canadian government in Aceh for the regional elections.

Shane's research is largely based on his initial experience at Forum-Asia, namely, the roles of religious leaders in village-level peace building efforts in Southeast Asia.

In describing his placement Shane said:

"I have learned a great deal about myself, about research, and about the world while working for the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia) in Bangkok, an experience made possible through the Center for Asia-Pacific Initiatives. Of my many tasks at Forum-Asia, the International Criminal Court (ICC) project has been the greatest challenge. Familiar with the Court from Political Science classes, I have learned a great deal about how the Court actually functions and works with governments and non-governmental organizations.

I have also been able to experience new worlds, and new cultures. Bangkok has offered a unique and safe urban atmosphere where I have made friends from embassies, the United Nations, through work, and through my connections with UVic. I participated in a conference in Chiang Mai and spent some time in Vientiane Laos. I have attended forums from the United Nations, ASEAN, the Thai government, various lobby groups, and several Universities. Bangkok has been a focal point for movements concerned with the crisis in Aceh as well as the detainment of An Sun Suu Kyi. The list of unique opportunities for informal education in my internship thus far has no end. In sum, I am rounding off my formal undergraduate education while seeing the world. The work is difficult and the learning curve is steep, but I have been placed in a multidisciplinary, open, and safe environment which is simultaneously challenging and flexible."