The Words of the Kagawa Family
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The Words of the Kagawa Family |
Jakarta, Indonesia -- In collaboration with the House of Regional Representatives and the Maya Bhakti Pertiwi Foundation, UPF organized an International Leadership Conference on the theme of Innovative Approaches to Peace, Leadership and Good Governance on December 8. The program held in the beautiful Auditorium of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Jakarta was attended by over 300 leaders from all walks of life including government, politics, diplomatic corps, academia, civil society, women, youth, and business. More than 12 countries, including six foreign missions to Indonesia, were represented.
Through this conference, UPF seeks to support the Indonesian government in exploring innovative approaches towards building a peaceful and just society. By strengthening and upholding the Indonesian state philosophy of Pancasila* and the Four Pillars of the Nation, all Indonesian citizens will be able to live together in harmony irrespective of race, religion, ethnicity, etc.
Recognizing the urgent need for leaders of integrity, Hon. Irman Gusman, Chairman of the House of Regional Representatives, readily agreed to co-host and inaugurate the seminar. Hon. Irman Gusman stated in his Welcome Message, "UPF's wisdom in endorsing the state ideology of Pancasila and the Four Pillars of Nationhood demonstrates its vision for a strong and stable Indonesia, which I certainly appreciate very highly." To encourage and support the Chairman in his efforts for peace, justice, and development of this nation and around the world, UPF-Indonesia presented him with an Ambassador for Peace appointment and is looking forward to further cooperation with the House of Regional Representatives as proposed by Hon. Gusman in his address.
Leaders of international and national stature sent their messages of good wishes to the Conference. Rev. Hyung Jin Moon, chairman of UPF International, wrote, "UPF International understands the importance of Indonesia as a nation dedicated to peace, moderation, and human development for its entire people."
He continued: "True leadership has its foundation not only in external knowledge and practical experience, but also in moral and spiritual wisdom. The same is true for good governance. If we are to achieve lasting peace, we need men and women who embody the highest standards of excellence and apply these standards in their areas of responsibility."
Drs. H.A. Muhaimin Iskandar, Minister of Manpower and Transmigration, called the conference theme on Innovative Approaches to Peace, Leadership and Good Governance "very timely and relevant to the current situation of our country, not only in the field of manpower and industrial relations, but also in a broader field, namely political and interfaith issues."
The former First Lady of Indonesia, Dra. Sinta Nuriyah Abdurrahman Wahid, expressed her hope that the conference would produce policies that can overcome the challenges to leadership, peace and morality that Indonesians are facing today and achieve their dream of a just and prosperous nation.
In his congratulatory remarks, Ir. H. Joko Widodo, the newly elected and popular Governor of Jakarta, said, "In this global era we need integrated leaders with their commitment in order for us to be able to deal with a number of problems a nation is facing."
Dr. Maya Rumantir Hutasoit, Founder/President of Maya Bhakti Pertiwi Foundation and Co-host of the event, warmly welcomed all participants and delighted the audience with songs for peace in the nation and the world, accompanied by a troupe of dancers whose traditional costumes showcased the great cultural diversity of this nation.
On behalf of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Mr. Machasin explained the Ministry's mission to serve all religious communities in Indonesia, which besides enhancing the religious life also includes the promotion of good governance and protection from misuse of religion as a tool of injustice.
Dr. Taj Hamad, Secretary General of UPF International, touched the hearts of all present with his humorous greetings citing many paradoxes of the modern world. Dr. Chung Sik Yong, Chairman of UPF-Asia, helped the audience to understand the UPF Founder's vision for peace and good leadership which is based on the desire to "live for the sake of others" like a parent who lives for the happiness of his children.
The Vice Chairman of UPF-Indonesia's Advisory Board Dr. Payaman Simanjuntak moderated the Sessions II and III dealing with issues of "National Character Building Based on Pancasila and Universal Values" and "The Role of Inter-religious Cooperation in Peacebuilding." The speakers of these two sessions were of extraordinary caliber confirming the pluralistic nature of this country and the need to protect and further respect and cooperation among the followers of various religions and faith traditions even within the same religion. The deliberations invoked lively interaction with the audience.
The conference ended with the inauguration of the Indonesian chapter of the Global Women's Peace Network. In her presentation, Mrs. Genie Kagawa, Deputy Director of UPF's Office for UN Relations, laid out what the UN does for the empowerment of women throughout the world and how this new network can support the UN efforts. Mrs. Yenny Wahid, Director of the Wahid Institute and many other organizations, including a political party, spoke on the crucial role women can play in peace as well as nation-building. Keeping in line with the inter-religious nature of the conference, representatives from all religions joined Dr. Maya Rumantir on stage to close the day with a prayer in their own tradition.
Many participants later commented that this was the best conference they ever attended and are eagerly waiting for the next UPF event.
* Pancasila is the philosophical foundation of the Indonesian state: Belief in the one and only God, a just and civilized humanity, the unity of Indonesia, democracy guided by the inner wisdom in the unanimity arising out of deliberations amongst representatives, and social justice for all of the people of Indonesia.