“Culture of Peace in an ASEAN Regional Perspective”

JAKARTA – On Thursday 14^th March 2013 and Friday 15^th March 2013, The ASEAN Foundation in collaboration with The Habibie Center will hold a seminar and public forum on a “Culture of Peace in an ASEAN Regional Perspective” in Jakarta. The objectives of the one-and-a-half day event are to discuss the significance of a “culture of peace” concept; to develop the concept into an ASEAN regional perspective; and to identify ways at socializing an ASEAN regional perspective on the “culture of peace” to the governments and peoples of ASEAN. These objectives are particularly crucial given the number of incidents of violence within and among some ASEAN Member-States in recent years. Given the aspirational goal of an ASEAN Community 2015 is less than two years away, such incidents – seen to showcase a level of disunity and conflict within and among some Member States – have raised questions on the state of readiness of ASEAN Countries in realizing the ASEAN Community by 2015.

As such, the seminar and public forum, which is fully supported by the Government of Canada, shall gather selected expert participants from the region to share their experiences and knowledge on issues surrounding a “culture of peace” in order to give it meaning, relevance and practicality. The seminar and public forum on a “Culture of Peace in an ASEAN Regional Perspective” shall be inaugurated by an opening ceremony featuring a keynote speech by H.E. Mr Djoko Suyanto, Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. The opening ceremony will also hear remarks from H.E. Dr. Makarim Wibisono (Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation), Ms. Rahimah Abdulrahim (Executive Director of The Habibie Center), H.E. Ambassador Donald Bobiash (Ambassador of Canada to Indonesia), H.E. Mr. H.S. Dillon (Presidential Special Envoy for Poverty Alleviation) and H.E. K.H. Hasyim Muzadi (Secretary-General of International Conference of Islamic Scholars (ICIS)).

A closed roundtable discussion will then follow where over the course of five sessions on Day 1, the expert participants will frankly and openly address key questions such as: the current state of affairs in the ASEAN region in relation to peace, violence, and conflict; if a culture of violence exists among Southeast Asians; and identifying alternative ways of achieving a lasting peace that goes beyond the simple absence of conflict but exists in the minds of men themselves. Other key issues include: the roles of political apathy, economic disillusionment and social alienation as driving factors for political/communal violence; the challenges, experiences and perspectives of individual ASEAN Member States regarding their reconciliation processes; and why pluralism and diversity should not be feared as a threat to national unity or cultural identity but instead be celebrated as something truly positive, enriching and peace-inducing.

Specially-selected experts such as Mr. Suos Yara (Advisor to Prime Minister, Vice Chairman of Commission for External Relations, Cambodian People’s Party), Deputy Secretary-General, Centrist Asia Pacific Democrat International, Cambodia), Dr. Rudi Sukandar (Researcher, The Habibie Center, Indonesia). Ms. Altaf Deviyati (Penang Institute, Malaysia) and Ms. Lorea N. Castro, Ph.D. (Executive Director, Center for Peace Education, Miriam College, the Philippines) have each been chosen to present their discussion papers during the sessions and lead the discourse with their peers. They will then take part in a public forum on Day 2 to relate the discussions, findings and outcomes of all the previous sessions of the seminar to the public. A key aim of the public forum is to give the public an opportunity to have an open discussion with the expert participants by asking questions, giving inputs and commenting on any issues surrounding the development of an ASEAN Regional Perspective on a Culture of Peace.

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