In his speech opening the meeting on Saturday, Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu expressed high appreciation to the the National Committee of Indonesian Youths (KNPI) and the World Assembly of Youth (WAY) which had chosen Maluku to be the event`s host.
Organized by the World Assembly of Youth, the two-day meeting is attended by around 100 members of the National Committee of Indonesian Youths (KNPI) and eight foreign youths representing Timor Leste, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Russia, and the Netherlands.
Governor Ralahalu also welcomed the presence of foreign youths at the meeting to discuss concrete steps to maintain peace because he believed security conditions in Ambon were getting more conducive after a communal clash on September 11, 2011.
"I am very grateful for the presence of youths from Timor Leste, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Russia, and the Netherlands in Ambon. Your presence here shows that the security conditions in Maluku are quite conducive," Ralahalu said.
Therefore in connection of the World Youth Forum on Peace and Harmony in Ambon, the World Assembly of Youth awarded men of peace to former Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu.
The award was given to Kalla and Ralahalu by WAY deputy chairman and Central Executive Council`s Chairman of the Indonesian Youth National Committee (KNPI) Ahmad Doli Kurnia here on Saturday in connection with World Youth Forum on Peace and Harmony.
Ahmad Doli Kurnia said the award was given to Jusuf Kalla because the former vice president was considered an important figure who had a great contribution in peace process following the conflicts in Ambon, Maluku, Poso in Central Sulawesi, and Sampit in Central Kalimantan, and Nangroe Aceh Darusalam in Aceh.
And for Ralahalu, Doli said the former was a hard-working regional leader with a capability to overcome three-year sectarian conflicts in Maluku from 199-2002 and a communal clash in Ambon on September 11, 2011.
Doli said the men of peace award for Kalla and Ralahalu was the first from the World Assembly of Youth since the organization was established in 1943.
"This is the first ever award from WAY to former Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu," Doli said, adding that the organization would present the similar award to the world figures who contributed in various fields for peace and welfare of the community.
Meanwhile, Governor Ralahalu said that peace had several meanings because peace could refer to an agreement to halt a war or to a period when armed forces were no longer fighting the enemy.
According to Ralahalu, peace could also mean a quiet and comfortable atmosphere in the community.
"Various references to the concept of peace can motivate us to strive to uphold the values ​of peace itself," the governor said.
He said youths were part of a community of people and future leaders, and therefore they played an important role in realizing real peace.
"This World Youth Forum is a momentous event because it can unify the understanding of youths who are members of WAY of KNPI organizations on world peace, especially referring to local wisdom," Ralahalu said.
Besides, the forum is also expected to have a strategic impact on the promotion of Maluku province abroad.
Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu said the provincial government fully support the event and to this end had issued a decree on the formation of the meeting`s organizing committee, chaired by the head of the local national education office, Salim Kairoty.
"It means Maluku has been trusted to hold other events like the World Assembly of Youth and therefore it should be supported optimally by all people in the province," the governor said.
Ralahalu also called on his people to make every effort to support the success of the international meeting because it has a strategic impact on the promotion of the province abroad.
"It will have a strategic significance because the participants will promote the real condition of Maluku to their relatives, including the government, investors, and even non-government organization upon returning to their respective countries," Ralahalu said.
Meanwhile, Maluku`s Regional Executive Council of KNPI chairman Zaharuddin Latuconsina pointed out that the Central Executive Council`s Chairman of the Indonesian Youth National Committee, Ahmad Doli Kurnia, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the World Youth has said Maluku has been designated as the site of the 34th World Peace.
The decision was made related to the holding of World Peace Day in Ambon on November 25, 2009 which was attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Zaharuddin noted, the World Youth Organization agreed to choose Maluku as host because the region was torn by a three-year sectarian conflict from 1999 to 2002 but it was overcome by social institutions through the promotion of local culture namely "Pela and Gandong."
The "Pela and Gandong" culture is the glue of brotherly life as a heritage which should be preserved and promoted to the international world, then became a model of social life with a plurality of society and religion.T
(T.O001/HAJM/F001)
Reporter: by Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
