Ethno-religious clashes need to be addressed<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Association of Southeast Asian Nations
\n(ASEAN) member countries need concerted efforts to deal with
\nethnic and religious conflicts in the region, experts have said.<\/p>\n
Ethno-religious conflicts are becoming a transnational problem
\nbecause people from other countries involve themselves for
\nsectarian sentiment, said Kamarul Zaman Askandar from Malaysian
\nUniversity Sain.<\/p>\n
Kamarul, who heads the newly established Southeast Asia-
\nConflict Studies Network, was presenting to the media on Thursday
\nconclusions of a three-day regional workshop on ethnic and
\nreligious conflict in Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n
Experts from nine of 10 Southeast Asian countries and several
\nEuropean countries participated in the workshop.<\/p>\n
\"Solidarity of Muslims in Malaysia and the other countries in
\nSoutheast Asia on recent religious conflicts in Indonesia, for
\ninstance, is very strong,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Religious conflicts in Indonesia have been raging in Ambon,
\nMaluku. The Indonesian police have confirmed foreign involvement,
\nnotably fundamentalist groups in Malaysia which send their
\nfighters to Ambon.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, ethnic and religious conflicts in Indonesia and
\nelsewhere should be treated as a regional problem that requires
\nthe participation of neighboring countries,\" Kamarul said.<\/p>\n
Kamarul said that ethnic and religious conflict became a
\nserious threat to security in Southeast Asia as the result of the
\neconomic crisis that has hit the region.<\/p>\n
He said that Indonesia was the most prone country in Southeast
\nAsia for religious and ethnic conflicts.<\/p>\n
\"In religious conflicts, people believe that they will go to
\nHeaven if they die while helping people from the same religion
\nirrespective of nationality,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sociologist Lambang Trijono, who is also a researcher at PPSK,
\nsaid that the network would urge ASEAN leaders to form a special
\ncommission on ethno-religious conflict resolution in the region.<\/p>\n
\"We will also encourage people in the region to form a joint
\ninstitution for the same purpose,\" he said. (44)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ethno-religious-clashes-need-to-be-addressed-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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