Journalists look at role of media in interfaith relations

The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua Beach, Bali

When two religious communities clash, should the media report this story and ignore the possible negative consequences for society? Or should it suppress it completely in the name of preserving stability?

In a discussion on the role of the media in relations between people of different faiths, 13 journalists from Europe and Asia reflected on Wednesday on the social responsibility of their profession: Most agreed the right thing to do would be to go ahead with the story, but to handle it with great care and wisdom so as not to fuel the conflict.

In his keynote address at the Third Journalists' Colloquium of the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF). Arizal Effendy of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the media had a role to play in promoting not only interfaith dialog, but also "intra- faith".

There is a lot of ignorance among people about the beliefs and practices of people of other religions, and often about the practices of people of the same faith, said the director general for American and European Affairs. "This has been systematically exploited or abused by irresponsible parties for their political goals."

Arizal put journalists alongside educators, religious leaders and civil society organizations as important players in promoting interfaith dialog, and to defuse the threat of religious conflict.

"When leaders of different religions meet, they discover that they have more commonalities than differences. The question then becomes how do we mainstream these common values, how do we overcome barriers that exist by peaceful means," he said.

The gathering of 13 journalists is one of the side events in the prelude to the first interfaith dialog of the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) forum, which will be opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Bali International Convention Center here on Thursday. The role of the media will also be one of the topics discussed in the two-day gathering, and senior journalists are among the delegates from the 38 countries taking part.

The day-long ASEF meeting went over examples of religious conflicts in Indonesia, Northern Ireland, the Philippines, southern Thailand, and the growing tensions increasingly being felt by minority groups in Europe, particularly, but not exclusively the Muslim minorities.

Singapore-based ASEF Executive Director Cho Won-il said through dialogs, leaders of different religious communities could help foster a much safer and secure world, one that was also more peaceful and more prosperous.

"We will be able to leave a much better world for our children," said Cho, a South Korean diplomat by background, adding: "And the media plays a key role in the democratization process of nations."

The ASEF colloquium involved journalists from Khmer Conscience Newspaper of Cambodia, People's Daily of China, Aamulehti of Finland, Nepszabadsag of Hungary, Gatra newsweekly and The Jakarta Post of Indonesia, Tokyo Shimbun, Joong-ang Ilbo of South Korea, De Volkskrant of the Netherlands, the Philippine Star, The Independent of Britain, The Irish Times, and Vietnam News.

Some of the issues and concerns raised at the one-day meeting will be brought to the discussion at ASEM.