One-time Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid was among the 20 religious leaders, theologists, academcians, and peace initiators of the Asia and Pacific region invited to address the Inter-Faith Summit in Brisbane, from February 18 to 21, 2009.
Antara reported from Brisbane on Sunday that besides the Nahdlatul Ulama leader, intimately addressed to by "Gus Dur", former rector of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University in Jakarta Prof. Azyumardi Azra, was also included in the list of speakers at the summit whose theme is "A Single Humanity, Various Beliefs".<>
The summit which will be held at the Multi Faith Center of Griffith University (MFC-GU) and at Pure Land Learning College Australia, will also invite many other leading figures, including Prof.James Haire of the Australian Christian and Cultural Center, Commissioner Tom Calma of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Felix Machado of the Nashik Diocese, India, Jeremy Jones of the Australian Jewish Executive Countil, Yi Thon of the Cambodian Inter-faith Council, and Dr.Loreta Castro of the Philippine Peace Education Center.
The conference, supported by tens of religious organizations and education and research institutions in Australia, Vietnam, China, Thailand, and Bangladesh, will be rich with dialogs, one day tours to various places of worship and exhibitions on the roles of religions in the resolution of conflicts and wars.
Of the summit, the participants were expected to find meeting points on values and principles from the existing religions and formulate policy proposals at local, national and regional level, to boost efforts of shaping peace and harmony in Australia and in Australia,s relations with the countries in the Asia and Pacific region. (dar)