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Can faith and religion combat violence in a world
where religion has been ill-used as the banner for armed conflict?
If yes, how? When governments are embroiled in war, what can civil
society and faith based organizations do for peace? When media have
been criticized for their role in inflaming conflicts, as they
defend their right to freedom of expression, do they have
responsibility for minimizing or containing violence? Or is the
media’s responsibility only to report the news, regardless of the
negative consequences?
Over 200 leaders of the world’s
religions, faith based organizations and civil society came together
to grapple with these issues during the Second World Peace Forum
held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from June 24 to 26. Muhammadiyah leader
Dr. Din Syamsuddin, who chaired the conference, hoped that the
forum would not only provide a venue for dialogues of peace among
key leaders of world civilizations but “to explore how the values
of humanity, common destiny, and one responsibility of human kind
could serve as an integrating force in efforts to eradicate the
problem of violence and ensure world peace.”
Organized by the Muhammadiyah
(one of the world’s largest Muslim organizations) and the Cheng Ho
Multi Culture Trust, Second World Peace Forum gathered the highest
leaders of the Indonesian government to share their views. Their
presence was a tribute both to the importance of the conference and
the influence of the Muhammadiyah.
President Bambang Sudibyo, Vice
President Jusuf Kalla, Minister of State Hatta Rajasa and Foreign
Minister Hassan Wirajuda contributed their thoughts about violence
in the name of faith, which seems to have become a tragic daily
routine in several parts of the globe. Perhaps the top three leaders
of the Indonesian government felt pressured to reassure the
participants that Indonesia remains a tolerant, pluralistic and
multicultural democratic state in spite of the violence against the
Ahmadiyyah sect, which has tarnished Indonesia’s image.
Although they are free to
practice their faith, Ahmadiyyah had been banned from spreading its
belief, believed to be deviant by mainstream Muslim leaders.
However, the moderate Muslim majority have lived peacefully with the
Ahmadiyyah in their midst—until recently. Early this month,
members of the hard-line Islamic Defenders Front attacked a peaceful
rally for religious tolerance, injuring dozens of men and women.
Former President Wahid blamed government for not acting swiftly.
Many Forum participants
criticized the role of government; especially state interference in
theological interpretations. Delegates called on governments to
protect religious freedom and not interpret theology. William
Vendley, secretary-general of the Religion for Peace, said in a
press conference: “Is the government’s job to decide which of
these communities is theologically correct? Or is it the
government’s job to ensure that there are peaceful and respectful
relations that allow citizens to believe according to their
conscience?”
Mohammed al Hassan Shabbo,
chair of the Arab League in Beijing, spoke of the escalation of
violence in the Middle East after the invasion of Afghanistan and
Iraq as political, not religious. He attributed the rising tensions
in the Middle East, in spite of the US supported Peace Plan, to the
world powers’ aggression in search of oil.
Bahraini scholar Mohamed Galal
pointed out the Middle East conflicts, political in nature, have
become wrongly identified with Islam, a religion of peace. The
unresolved issue of Palestine and Israel has aggravated the feelings
of Muslims worldwide towards the United States, a staunch ally of
Israel.
I was invited to speak on the
Mindanao experience of civil society and faith based organizations
in combating violence. I pointed out that interfaith collaboration
has been strong in addressing conflict. However, not too many in the
forum were aware of that fact. I had to stress that the conflicts in
Mindanao are also political, largely against the State or due to
criminality. I had to point out that the peoples of Mindanao, who
subscribe to different faiths, are not at war with each other but
coexist in peace.
However, we still desperately
need to deepen and expand the dialogues among our peoples beyond
mere spiritual talk. New factors—criminality, human rights
violations as the State wars on “terrorists,” corruption and
inability of the State to serve and protect its citizens—are muddying
the already confusing situation. We need the dialogues to focus
attention on the real causes of the conflict—and these have very
little to do with God.
I echo the statement of Dr.
Sudibyo Markus, chair of the National Board of Muhammadiyah:
“Interfaith dialogues at the community and grassroots level, using
day to day praxis developmental issues as the language of its
dialogues, will be eventually the most direct and effective
dialogues.”
aminarasul@yahoo.com
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