Journalists express their wish to reunite

More than 80 journalists and other media experts who participated in the Refresher Programme held in Dhaka, Bangladesh in November 2004 expressed their strong wish to unite peoples of the continent as the pre-requisite for peace and harmony in the region and in the world.

Though most of the countries in the region are artificially formed without respect to societies, cultures, ethnic life and language; the peoples of these countries have greater understanding and respect for life.

The journalists and other media experts observed that the South Asia is the cradle of wisdom, knowledge, intellectual growth, religions, cultures, science, welfare and dignity of life, that lead today’s world, and the region continues to inspire from its own creations.

There are great expressions of good will all around to come together, and the problems remain just on the level of political authorities. Therefore, there is a great role to be played by journalists in order make the people of the continent make use of their unity amidst worlds greatest diversity where the majority of human persons are absolutely free to think, initiate, practise and live.

The participants observed that the agents of division are narrow-minded religions and politics and their leaders without greater vision; and the economic, military and geo-political interests of the powerful nations, which never allow solid growth in the region.

The politics and policies one needs on this continent are where all parties win. They were retold the real story of the tortoise and hare where both of them win in the third part of the story. The third part would have been deliberately taken out from historic books and instances like many other stories, conventions, customs and others, when these wisdoms had to travel from the continent to all parts of the world. The story came back to its origins with strange copy and authors rights imposed by those who are afraid of further appropriations!

In the third part of the story, the tortoise invited the hare for one more competition where the final point of the race was just after crossing of a river. As they reached the river, the tortoise suggested that the hare board on his back as the tortoise swam and they arrive at the destination together, hence making both of them winners for life.

There is a need to reinvent the wisdoms, practices and human behaviours on the continent that keeps its original colours in spite of all invasions, colonisations, oppressions and evolutions.

Summary and Findings

The keynote addresses, debates, visits, dialogues with political and religious leaders, encounters with intellectuals, and exposures to various realities gave all those who were involved in the programme extra-ordinary insights, ideas, information and exchange of experiences:

- People of this continent are above all the citizens of our universe, world and mother earth before being members or citizens of religions and political territories. This fundamental awareness is the first requirement to have a healthy concept of religions, nations and other secondary identities.

- Respect to cultures is a major foundation stone for building harmonious and peaceful societies. Religions should do everything to foster cultures and customs rather than imposing artificial ones.

- No religion is foreign to South Asia, but incomplete and meaningless practises imposed on peoples are foreign in all ways. Religious fanaticism especially came from abroad exhorted complete replacement of peoples practices though all the religions foundations and fundamental messages are the same.

- Religious and political leaders without foresight hence forced people to fight one another for cosmetic changes. Here lies probably the greatest role of journalists to inform and guide people for the welfare of all and peace and harmony in all societies.

- In South Asia, the vast majority of the people know that religions, practices, customs, traditions, movements, nations and laws were invented, created and maintained by the people for the benefit and growth of all. And these realities should not hinder our growth and when any of these goes against its existential aims they have to be redressed.

- Journalists need to stay above all realities, imaginations and events so that they have a greater vision of all things so that they can report without bias, and with greater vision and concern for all irrespective of all differences.

- It is important to keep ones national, religious and other identities, as they are rich bases to rise above everything and it is important to evolve when they become limitations. They are essential to vitalise oneself and to direct ones energies for the good of all.

- The journalists and media experts noted that not religions but practices and traditions imposed by religious leaders and laws continue to conflict with local cultures and natures of law. For example, more than 80 per cent of the people believe that burying corpses are against law of nature and human dignity; they should be burned in great respect for the departed souls and laws of nature and human being.

- One of keynote speakers said citing the book To Disarm Terror: A Role of Believers written by Cardinal Walter Kasper that often the three monotheist religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam are accused of having a link between terrorism and religion. Suspicions of intolerance fall on the three as at least having a propensity to violence because of their exclusive faith ? in fact or so understood ? in one only God.

- There are two types of terrorisms in todays modern world. The first is official terrorism, for example policies of the rich and powerful nations that keep peoples worldwide poor forever, and force them to premature death. Some of these policies enforce violent ethnic cleansing. The other part of the official terrorism is suppressing all who rise against these policies, for example, the wars in Iraq, Yugoslavia, Somalia, and so on. The second is the bigger scale reaction against these policies and unjust wars, for example the attacks on world trade centre in New York in September 2001.

- Therefore the real terrorism, its roots and causes are created and initiated in different parts of the world by the big and the powerful.

- Taking inspirations from Mahatma Gandhi, the journalists said that they needed to feel the aspirations of peoples of South Asia who were touched by Gandhis message and followed him in spite of their different religious beliefs.

- Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela drew inspirations from Gandhi and the Gandhian approach led to dismantle the structural violence of colonialism, segregation and apartheid on three continents.

- Gandhi exhorted Satyagraha (fervent desire or holding fast to truth) and he led millions of Hindus and Muslims in peaceful protests, which resulted in victory for an unarmed people whose conviction was that Truth that all human persons are equal and no race should colonise or rule another.

- Journalists become professional, effective and exemplary when they maintain values, vision and the welfare of all. Without these indispensable criteria journalism is like a basket without bottom. All goes out as they enter.

Concerns in South Asian Countries

Participants from South Asian nations presented the most recent situations in their own countries and the pressing issues, which their peoples are concerned with.

Nepal: The biggest pre-occupation in Nepal today is the Maoist rebel attacks and the growing tension with Muslims. Nepal has some 23 million people living in the plain, middle hills and high hills. There are 50 sets of ethnic languages, customs and values. And the base of harmony and peace in Nepal is respecting everyone in their uniqueness and identities.

The Maoist rebels have no concern except make everyone Maoist and destroy all what is not Maoist. Besides members of the government, the rebels recently kidnapped writers and journalists who upheld the freedom of people.

The literacy rate in Nepal is 40 percent and government and non-governmental entities are trying their best to give education to all people in view of peace and harmony.

Bangladesh: The literacy level in Bangladesh is 56 per cent. The nation has more than 135 million people living mainly in flat alluvial plain and in the hill tracts in the South East. 98 per cent of the population are Bengalis.

According to journalists, Bangladeshs Islamic government can be compared to the former Taliban government in Afghanistan. They do everything to make Bangladesh an Islamic State and everything today in this country is set up for Muslims.

There is no real place for local cultures, customs and conventions, which are the bases of todays institutionalised religions. Fanatics do not see the origins and deeper meanings of religions, customs and practices. People still dream of the peace and harmony that existed in the regions before colonial powers came.

Pakistan: More than 150 million people live in the flat Indus plain in east, mountains in north and northwest and Baluchistan plateau in west. Pakistans literacy rate is 23 per cent.

The main concerns in the country in the last years include the total absence of democracy and increasing Islamic fundamentalism on all levels. For example even the national legislations are made at the interest of fanatics such as blasphemy laws: One can get (1) two years of imprisonment for disgracing holy places, (2) life imprisonment for any disgrace on Koran (for example, if one tears by mistake a page of Koran, even if the person, including child, is illiterate), and (3) death if one utter anything against Prophet Mohammad.

Islam does not allow any local cultures and customs to blossom as they are suppressed by Islamic traditions and customs. Journalists from Pakistan said that without the fundamental freedom to express, the nation would not have peace and harmony among its peoples. Besides, terrorism and other forms violence are used to maintain the Islamic agenda.

Sri Lanka: Almost 19 million people live in mostly low, flat to rolling plain and mountains in south-central interior. Of them more than 13 million are Sinhalese, 2.5 million Sri Lankan Tamils, almost 1 million Indian Tamils, 1,5 million Sri Lankan Moors and others. The Adult literacy rate of 85 per cent is very high compared to other South Asian countries.

Tensions between Tamils and Sinhalese continue to hinder peace and harmony throughout the nation. Though periodical conflict settlements are made, there is no real end in sight and it does not help maintain peace and harmony in the nation.

India: More than 1 billion people live in all types of landscapes in India: from the highest mountains in the world to the sea level. The literacy rate is 66 per cent of the people. There are thousands of ethnic groups deriving from Indo-Aryan (72%), and Dravidian (25%), and Mongoloid and other (3%) major races.

The biggest concern of the majority of the people is maintaining all freedoms at all levels. People do not expect any religion to be over them. People know that they themselves are the creators of religions. As a popular song goes: The human person created religions, religions created gods and both gods and religions shared the earth.

Religions are pointers that help guide and it is up to the person to decide when, where, how, why and what to appreciate, choose and act.

Because of the growing institutionalisation of all religions, all human persons suffer. Peoples aspiration today for greater peace and harmony is the retreat of oppressing religious and political structures and policies from all fronts of every day life.

Maldives: Almost 300000 people live on islands. The greatest tragedy of Maldives is that the nation is meant for tourism and local people have little contact with outside world and the millions of visitors coming to their own islands.

As some journalists described, the Maldivian islands are prisons on water in three ways, because of (a) policies for tourism, (b) geographical situation where islands have no contact with the neighbouring main lands and (c) religious situation where Islam does not allow greater contact with others.

Peace and harmony can exist in an open, free and spontaneous society where one can invent, blossom and share.

Seminar Statement

After exploring the theme exhaustively for several days through presentations, visits, encounters and exposures the participants brought out a statement. Here are some extracts:

We underline the need for greater exchange of information coupled with freedom of expression as vital to the promotion of peace and harmonious relationship. We stress the importance of learning more about each other's cultures, religion and values.

We pledge to become agents of greater information sharing and networking, to build understanding and solidarity among the different countries of our sub-continent. We note with concern the control and monopolisation of news by political forces or multi-national media organizations.

We uphold the people's right to free and objective information, freedom of expression, and the right of information. We underline the need for alternate voice and opinion which is free and objective, which can help us to analyse regional as well as global issues and events more objectively and impartially.

We appeal to the governments, governmental and non-governmental organisations, media persons and all other citizens to contribute wholeheartedly to the promotion of peace and harmony. We call upon them to denounce war and violation in all forms, and to resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue and peaceful negotiations.

We express our solidarity with those who continue to suffer due to ethnic conflicts in Sri Lanka, insurgency in Nepal, religious fundamentalism in India and Bangladesh, discriminatory laws against women and minorities like the Hadood Ordinance and Blasphemy laws in Pakistan. We appeal to the governments in these countries to ensure that these issues are resolved and a climate of peace is restored without further delay.

We urge to respect and uphold the fundamental right of religious and ethnic minorities in different parts of South Asia. We appeal to leaders of all religions to denounce acts of terrorism, killings, kidnappings and suicide attacks carried out in the name of religion.

As journalists we pledge to promote through our work the values of freedom, human dignity, justice and solidarity with the poor.