Journalists look at role of media in interfaith relations
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.