Prelude

SLMUN is Sri Lanka’s largest Model United Nations conference organized annually through an entirely student-run committee. This year (2022) marks the 15th session of SLMUN – its crystal anniversary – along with its 14th year running through the local MUN circuit. Held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) on the 17-18^th September, it broke attendance records with over 700 delegates, from all over the island, competing in 8 committees.

Being my third conference, 2^nd SLMUN, I was hoping to walk away with a prestigious Best Delegate medal. I had competed in economic committees for my previous conferences, ESCAP & ECOSOC, hence I thought of diversifying into a different committee and I ended up choosing NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Within the current context, NATO is trending globally – and I thought it would make for interesting and heated debate (heads up, it did). I was allocated the Republic of Slovenia as my country – a small central European nation.

Practice Debates

I employed a slightly different strategy than usual for the practice debates – quite risky but, hoping the rewards would justify the means, I performed sub-par for both PDs. Purposefully, I did not speak as much, nor attempt to aggress another delegate who I identified as competition. Of course, I spoke as well, I was not completely mute. It was about striking that fine margin between flying underneath the radar of good delegates and still showing the chairs that I had potential – something that is invaluable for recognition. Whilst showing a ruse of myself, I gathered information about potential competition – delegates who showed competency.

Imagine a NAT-GEO photographer hiding amidst the bushes while intricately photographing a lion hunting its prey – that was me. Until he sells the photograph, he does not know whether the risk was justified, similarly, until main conference was upon us, I did not know whether the risk was justified.

Conference – Day One

Showtime.

Our day started off at 8.30am with the opening ceremony which consisted of a plethora of speeches and formalities, most notably the crowning of the 15^th Secretary General of SLMUN – which was dramatically commenced with the Top Gun theme playing in the background. After the first speech by the new Sec Gen, where he conveyed his warm wishes, he ceremonially banged his gavel and opened the conference for debate.

We debated from 10.15am to 4.15pm, with a 40-minute break for lunch as well as another 1 hour for SLMUN’s sponsor’s pitches. Getting straight to the point, day one did not go as I envisioned. I spoke a fair bit however, and opened a lobbying session as well. The issue was I could not raise any foreign policy violations (raised when a fellow delegate contradicts his country’s foreign policy), which usually play the determining role in awards allocations. I raised a lot of statements – only two points of information however, which was a result of poor recognition due to time constraints. With SLMUN’s replacement of the Foreign Policy Statement with the Working Paper (a mini resolution), the speaker’s list speech was also replaced with a speech focused around explaining your working paper. Time was our grave enemy as we only managed to discuss 13 out of the 28 working papers – mine also went undiscussed. I managed to keep up the speaking consistency when we moved on into moderated caucuses, speaking in all but one mod caucus.

I felt however, that the prospect of an award was slowly slipping from my grasp as other top delegates, Spain, Estonia & UK, racked up FPVs – fortunately none was against me. Even though we had no confirmation on whether the FPVs stood (were valid), I felt the pressure immensely.

Conference – Day Two

Comeback?

Bright an early on day two we finished our committee formalities – the group photo and video. That left only 9.30 – 3.00pm for debate – do not forget the 40m lunch break in-between as well. After a hurried 30m mod caucus session, of which I had varying levels of recognition, we broke off into un-mod.

I ended up being the sponsor of the second resolution, along with Spain (my main competition) and Poland (my good friend from my previous school). Strategically, being on the second resolution was brilliant – combined with the looming issue of time, it meant that our resolution discussion would be rushed, hence leaving minimal time for any FPVs towards it. However, I knew that me partnering with Spain was the point where my chances for a Best Delegate award vanished – we were on the same team, I could not target him, and the points difference was too large to make up with normal speaking. The second bloc was formed by sponsor nations: Estonia (my next competitor), UK and France. By the end of the hour, both blocs had submitted resolutions covering a variety of topics – ranging from cyber security, to bolstering defenses in the Baltic nations.

The discussion of the first resolution bore no fruits for me – not a single FPV. Spain and Poland each brough out a couple of FPVs – most of which, I found out afterwards, did not stand. Pressure was amounting and time was escaping.

Discussion of amendments of the first resolution – booby trap. I promised a comeback, didn’t I?

One of my proposed amendments was niche, on a topic I knew that the sponsor nations had no prior knowledge to – the Liechtenstein Proposal to the General Assembly (which all of them supported). Playing into my cards, they all declined the amendment – the stars aligned.

Nothing sweeter than redemption through a triple FPV.

Our resolution discussion, as anticipated, was rushed. FPVs were raised and subsequently defended – none of them stood.

Debate was tabled. Committee was closed.

Walking up the aisle towards the stage to collect my Higher Commendation (2^nd place) award, I was proud of where I ended up, given the dire circumstances. But a 40-point margin to first place was nothing to be proud of, especially when the goal was the gold.

Photo Courtesy of LMD & SLMUN