(Bangkok and Pattani, Thailand | September 19, 2012)
Photo: Supreme Cambodian Patriarch Tep Vong [an RfP Co-President] together with a Senior Islamic Leader in conflict zone of Southern Thailand
More than 200 religious leaders, representatives of inter-religious councils and peace scholars from the
Association of South Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states, convened in Bangkok and Pattani, Thailand on 17-19 September 2012, to address the role of religion and inter-religious cooperation in resolving conflicts and building peace in the ASEAN region.
The conference was organised by the Religions for Peace Inter-religious Council of Thailand in cooperation with the Muslim World League (MWL); Thai government’s Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC); Office of Shaikhul Islam; Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies at Mahidol University; Assalam Institute; Yala Islamic University and Religions for Peace International.
The participants committed themselves to establishing and/or strengthening national inter-religious
mechanisms in respective countries and to developing a network of Inter-religious Councils in ASEAN to further strengthen inter-religious actions to prevent conflicts, promote development, and advance peace in ASEAN countries and the region as a whole.
The participants also visited the southern Thailand where Buddhist and Muslim communities and the
Religions for Peace Inter-religious Council of Thailand have been working to build closer relationships among various religious groups to apply religious principles and practices to resolve conflicts in the South. The visit to Southern Thailand further strengthened the religious leaders’ commitment to action-oriented inter-religious cooperation for conflict transformation and peace building.
Photos: (1) RfP International Secretary-General Dr. Vendley with Thai Prime Minister Shinawatra; (2) ASEAN Inter-religious Forum in Bangkok
Her Excellency Prime Minister Mrs. Yinglak Shinawatra of Thailand welcomed the Religions for Peace and Muslim World League delegation at her official residence and stated in her statement to the conference that “through deeper cooperation among ASEAN religious leaders, a peaceful ASEAN community will become a reality.”
Prof. Dr. Din Syamusuddin, Moderator of Asian Conference of Religions for Peace, stressed that “our ASEAN region is faced with new, urgent and decisive threats to peace that cut across the boundaries of each particular religious community. Action that combines compassion, justice and forgiveness must be urgently taken by all of us. So it is that our multi-religious cooperation can become an alliance of great spiritual and moral strength to uphold the dignity of every person and the well-being of our common earth.”
Prof. Dr. Din Syamusuddin, Moderator of Asian Conference of Religions for Peace, stressed that “our ASEAN region is faced with new, urgent and decisive threats to peace that cut across the boundaries of each particular religious community. Action that combines compassion, justice and forgiveness must be urgently taken by all of us. So it is that our multi-religious cooperation can become an alliance of great spiritual and moral strength to uphold the dignity of every person and the well-being of our common earth.”
Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General, Religions for Peace International, stated that cooperation between multi-religious bodies and ASEAN could yield great fruit in terms of conflict resolution and peace building in the region. He also noted that “religious communities and governments have different identities, mandates and capacities. Cooperation between them should respect these differences.”
Speakers included H.E. Prof. Dr. Abdullah Muhsin Al-Turky, Secretary General, The Muslim World League; Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General of the World Conference of Religions for Peace; Somdej Phramaharajmangklajarn, Committee Sangha Council; H.E. Yongyut Wichaidis, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand; Prof. Dr. Din Syamsuddin, President, Muhamadiyyah, Religions for Peace International Co-President; Moderator, Asian Conference of Religions for Peace; His Holiness Ven. Tep Vong, Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia; Religions for Peace Dr. Ismail Lutfi Japakiya, Co-President, Relgions for Peace, Inter-religious Council of Thailand; Dr. Parichart Suwanbubbha, Secretary to the Religions for Peace Inter-religious Council of Thailand; Phrarajwarajarn Co President Religions for Peace Inter-religious Council of Thailand; Dr. Gothom Arya, Senior Advisor to the Council; Dr. Lillian Sison, Secretary General, Religions for Peace Philippines; Chair, Asian Women of Faith Network; Dean, Graduate School, Pontifical University of Santo Tomas; Mr. U Myint Swe, President, Ratana Metta and Acting President of Religions for Peace Myanmar, Myanmar; and Rev. Kyoichi Sugino, Deputy Secretary General, Religions for Peace International.
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