2,000 Citizens Participate in A Peace Movement All Across Indonesia

A peace campaign entitled “Talk & Walk to Prevent Violent Extremism” was held in three cities of Indonesia including Medan, Malang and the capital city Jakarta.on May 14.

Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) under the UN Department of Public Information (DPI), and 25 NGO participated in the event. This Peace Walk Festival has been celebrated since 2013 when it was introduced as an international peace project of youth empowerment for the purpose of making peace as a legacy for future generations, inspired by HWPL’s Declaration of World Peace.

In this year, it was held at Jakarta’s Bundaran HI or HI Roundabout,, Protocol Road (Malang), and Stadion Mini USU (Medan), with two thousand youths participating.

This campaign has its motivation in the UN’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism presented in January 2016. It promotes public awareness that there is a danger of anyone becoming an assailant of violent extremism without consideration of deeds.

In the hand painting booth, participants put their hands with paint to print it on a paper then they left messages on paper, which show their desires for peace and preventing violent extremism. Also the youth representatives from six religions in Indonesia presented a performance with the theme of inter-religious harmony, which is recognized as a core value in the Indonesian society.

“When I know the mission of HWPL to spread a culture of peace and peace movement to prevent destruction caused by war and conflict. I, as a youth generation, realize that the real victim is youth. Particularly, we in Indonesia consist of various religions, races, ethnic groups, and local languages. Those factors potentially make conflicts. Then, we, as youth, have a responsibility to make the world better,” said Moh Zainulah, the Head of Islamic Association of University Student (HMI) Malang.

Meanwhile, Chairwoman Elza Syarief of Himpunan Advokat Pengacara Indonesia or the Association of Indonesian Lawyers (HAPI), Former Rector Hari Purwanto of College of National Intelligence, and Dean Zainul Fuad of Islamic State University (UIN) North Sumatra were featured as speakers and called for the need and importance of peace. According to the organizers of this event, some participants said that they could have an opportunity to think how individuals’ values and ideology affect their behaviors.

This campaign, being held globally together with the Peace Walk Festival. HWPL, is promoting peace projects with local communities including the legislation for peace, inter-faith dialogue, youth’s rights promotion, and peace education for the dispute resolution and peace development. (L/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)