Jakarta, Aug 29 (Antara) - Amid different conflicts arising from
diversities in the global arena, Indonesia is promoting its "Bhinneka
Tunggal Ika" (Unity in Diversity) slogan in creating national harmony
during a United Nations forum on civilizations in Bali.
"In our world, many people with respective reasons are suspicious about
differences and diversities, which is why they create hostilities,"
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stated at the opening of
the Sixth Global Forum of United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
(UNAOC), on the Indonesian island of Bali on Friday.
According to Yudhoyono, Indonesia has been cultivating its diversity
through its 'Bhinneka Tunggal Ika' slogan, as the basis for developing
harmony.
He cited Indonesia as an example, which is situated along the trade
route linking the Pacific and Indian Ocean, for managing, for centuries,
its relationships with different world cultures and civilizations.
"In a process that has been taking place for centuries, Islam,
Hinduism, Buddhism and western cultures merged with local cultures to
become part of our nation's cultural heritage," he asserted.
Therefore, he noted there are no fundamental clashes among
civilizations and, in general, diverse groups have been in harmony with
those found in Indonesia.
The
President stated that Indonesia, in the 21st century, has shown that
Islam, democracy, and modernization can co-exist in harmony, with the
"Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" slogan as a symbol of the country's unity.
However,
differences and diverse cultures and people have become major reasons
for sparking conflict in various parts of the world.
At the opening session of the UN forum, UNAOC High Representative
Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser stated that the crises in some Middle East,
Asian, and African countries have clearly demonstrated that societies
were grappling with identity-based tensions.
"At the same time, we observe that identity is being used to divide
people, rather than unite them toward a common purpose," Al-Nasser said.
According to the President of the 68th United Nations General Assembly,
John W. Ashe, differences will always exist when people from different
societies come together.
Ashe
further stated that to create world peace, a society should not be
"monolithic" or characterized by total uniformity. Being different does
not refer to being illicit, Ashe said, although the world's trend has
begun to show the emergence of new conflicts, such as in Syria and Iraq,
and reemergence of old conflicts, such as between Palestine and Israel,
which have often been triggered because of differences in views.
"Society cannot be monolithic, consisting of people from a single religion, culture, and ethnicity," Ashe pointed out.
Despite the differences, people should find the key element that unites them as a common family, he said.
President
Yudhoyono is therefore convinced that the world will become better,
more prosperous, and stronger with the interactions and integrity of
civilizations that can take a cue from Indonesia's experience as a
country with great diversity.
Further, at the forum, President Yudhoyono underlined that the human
race had been paying the cost of intolerance for a very long time.
"One would believe that after more than 180 million deaths and so much
hunger, disease, and pain endured because of armed conflicts in the 20th
century, humans will renounce war forever. We, however, have not
escaped its grip," Yudhoyono told some 106 representatives and 1,300
participants from various countries at the forum, held from August
29-30, 2014.
"I am aware of the different events in the world recorded in history,
which show clashes among civilizations that trigger wars, conflicts, and
suppression. But, I believe that now we have a great chance to make
better changes than what the history has recorded," President Yudhoyono
stated, while opening the (UNAOC) forum.
Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa, meanwhile, noted
that by accepting, embracing, and celebrating diversity, people can
promote mutual tolerance and respect for each other.
"Diversity
is a source of strength and not of weakness," he stated at the forum,
which is focusing on the theme, "Unity in Diversity" and reaffirming the
importance of common and shared values as a unifying factor in a
multi-divergent world.
Minister Natalegawa also emphasised that the challenges in addressing
unity in diversity included the willingness to respect the voices,
votes, and aspirations of the people, including that of the minority.
In the meantime, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, during
the Sixth United Nations Global Alliance for Civilizations (UNAOC) Forum
here on Friday, praised Indonesia's principle of "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika"
or "Unity in Diversity."
"It is more than a slogan. It is a way of life that can play a role in creating peace," Ban said.
The secretary general highlighted various crises occurring in the world
today as a result of clashes between different races, ethnicities, or
religious beliefs. Hence, Ban expressed hope that the UNAOC will
contribute to a more peaceful world.
Ban Ki-moon, in his opening remarks, noted that several of the world's
worst crises were driven by those who exploited fear for gaining power.
Too many societies were being divided along cultural, religious, and
ethnic lines.
"War begins in peoples' minds, and the way to peace is through peoples' hearts," Ban Ki-moon asserted.
The alliance was created to reach out to the hearts and minds of the
people and build bridges for peace, Ban Ki-moon noted.
"We cannot allow communities to be threatened by criminal atrocities
because of who they are and because of what they believe in," he pointed
out.
Held at Bali's Nusa Dua Convention Center, the 6th UNAOC Forum seeks to
bridge inter-civilization communications across the world.
The UNAOC was initiated by former UN secretary general Kofi Annan on
July 14, 2005, and was co-sponsored by former prime minister of Spain
Jose Luis Rodreguez Zapatero and Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip
Erdogan.
The
Global Forum, themed "Unity in Diversity," is a translation of
Indonesia's national motto, "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika," and lays emphasis on
the four pillars of Education, Youth, Media, and Migration. The motto
mirrors the outlook of Indonesia's founding fathers and embraces the
wealth of Indonesia's cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and religious
diversity.***1***
(T.A014/INE)
(T.A014/A/BESSR/A. Abdussalam) 29-08-2014 22:28 |
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