'Awani Dream' sets sail on peace mission

JAKARTA (JP): Awani Dream cruiser, in cooperation with a Japanese peace campaigner group, will undertake a 90-day peace mission around the world from December this year through March next year.

Awani Dream, which belongs to the Modern Group, will carry mostly activists of the Tokyo-based Peace Boat who will tell people in every port they call at their version of Japan's role in World War II.

The activists say that the history taught in Japanese schools consists mostly of excuses for Japan's invasions that brought about untold misery to millions of people in many parts of the world in the 1940s.

Awani Dream's spokesperson Ida Sudoyo said the voyage will start in Singapore. The next stop will be Bali before the 12,000 ton ship sails to Australia, South America and Europe.

She said 90 percent of the cruiser's 550 berths have been reserved by the Japanese activists. The rest will be available to the public at US$20,000 each.

The memorandum of agreement between Modern Group's chairman Samadikun Hartono and Peace Boat's director of the executive committee Yoshioka Tatsuya was signed in Tokyo last week.

Founded in 1983, the Peace Boat aims at promoting peace throughout the world through cruises. The non-profit organization also tells people the truth about Japan's involvement in World War II.(01)