On Monday 6th December, an extraordinary interfaith forum was held in Indonesia in which leaders of all faiths from 13 Asian-Pacific countries engaged in dialogue to map out a way to fight terrorism.

Ranging from Buddhist monks in orange robes to Muslim muftis and Catholic cardinals as well as Jews, Protestants, Hindus and Confucionists were represented at the gathering. More than 120 religious and community leaders and interfaith experts from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were delegates at the forum.

The organiser of the gathering was President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia. Through the forum, he called on all religions to rise up against terrorism and show that faith could be a force for peace.

A number of bloody clashes between Christians and Muslims in Indonesia have hit the international headlines this past year, however Indonesia as one of the world's most prominent Christian nations showed a very encouraging sight that even this troubled nation has taken the initiative to make an effort against terrorism. The campaign will help to knock down the false image of so-called "Islam-sponsored terrorism" that has been portrayed by the mass media and printed on the minds of many people.

Throughout the whole forum, the message "all faiths have a responsibility to assert the common ideals of moderate faith over extremism" was emphasised.

"People ... like you have the responsibility to bring your message of truth, unity, and hope deep into the grassroots of society and that message will resonate strongly among peace-loving people at all levels," President Yuhoyono told the religious leaders.

President Yuhoyono, after the religious leaders led the prayers stated, "We should rise up and demonstrate that religion is a force for peace."

"To my mind, terrorism today must be regarded as the enemy of all religions. In the end the forces of light, reason and hope must overpower the forces of darkness, despair and violence," he declared.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer was invited to give the opening address. Downer has described the meeting as profound and important, a reminder of the common faith in the sanctity of life and human rights.

"A terrible perversion of religion, with a violent face, threatens moderate believers and moderate states in both the East and the West," Downer commented, and he went on to say that the widespread terrorist activities around the world have hindered the development of faiths.

"The war on terror will falter and fail if it is not prosecuted vigorously in our pulpits, our mosques, our synagogues, our temples and our schoolrooms, as well as in our parliaments and our mass media," Downer said.

"I have no hesitation in saying that the gift of faith can fortify us all in our various efforts to combat terror and violence."

President Yudhoyono expressed his hope outside the conference room that there would be a "move toward the establishment of a permanent forum" of this kind including more countries.

[Source: Reuters]