Contact:
Ms. Andrea Louie, Religions for Peace
New York, USA
Tel: (+1) 212-687-2163
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High-Level Multi-Religious Delegation Helps Build Peace in Southern Thailand
—Religious leaders begin building the Religions for Peace Inter-religious Council–Thailand to
Advance Reconciliation and Peace—
(BANGKOK, 25 April 2008)—As crises continue in the three Southern provinces—Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat—Religions for Peace, the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition, in partnership with World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) and Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), organized a high-level multi-religious delegation to the Southern Thailand on 22–23 April 2008.
The delegation met with local Buddhist, Muslim and Christian leaders, as well as with senior representatives of the Yala provincial government, the Civil-Police-Military Joint Task Force (CPM) and the Southern Boarder Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC). The delegation also met with H.E. Mr. Anand Panyarachun, Chairman, National Reconciliation Commission, and H.E. Mr. Chuan Leekpai, Former Prime Ministers of Thailand in Bangkok on 23 April 2008.
The delegation consisted of Rev. Kyoichi Sugino, Director of Inter-religious Development and Field Coordinator, Religions for Peace; Dr. Prawate Khi-arn, General Secretary, Christian Conference of Asia (CCA); Ven. Passakon Pawitai (Buddhist leader from Chang Mai); Mae Che Sansanee Sthirasula (Buddhist nun); Mr. Karim Abdullah (Islamic Center of Thailand), Rev. Fr. Saner Damnernsaduak (Catholic priest); Rev. Sayam Muangsak (The Church of Christ in Thailand); Dr. Gothom Areeya (Director, Center for Peacebuilding, Mahidol University); Mrs. Dungkamol Suiichakul (President, Young Buddhist Association of Thailand); Dr. Parichart Suwanbuddha (Mahidol University); and Mr. Somchai Homlaor (Asian Institute for Human Rights).
Dr. Prawate Khi-arn, General Secretary of CCA said, “Although the Thai government is endeavoring by every means to pursue peace and order, the killing of civilians and security forces by well-armed insurgents continues, and peace has still not been achieved.” The high-level multi-religious delegation met with local religious, governmental and civil society leaders to discuss ways to advance peaceful resolution of conflict in the south.
Rev. Sugino said, “The historically friendly ties among Buddhists and Muslims in the Southern Thailand needs to be re-established. Multi-religious solidarity can facilitate the conditions for healing, reconciliation, dialogue and common action for peace. Rev. Sugino noted that religious leaders have agreed to begin the process of forming national and provincial inter-religious councils, consisting of senior leadership of Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, and other religious traditions, as a mechanism for reconciliation and peaceful common living. The proposal of building the National Inter-religious Council and Provincial Councils was welcomed by senior representatives of SBPAC and CPM, as well as by Former Prime Ministers H.E. Mr. Anand Panyarachun and H.E. Mr. Chuan Leekpai.