UN Zero Hunger Challenge for Asia - Pacific

The UN Regional Coordination Mechanism in Asia-Pacific has launched the Zero Hunger Challenge for the region, calling on governments, farmers, scientists, business, civil society and consumers to work together to end hunger in the region, where the majority of the world's undernourished people live.

Myanmar forces restore order after latest anti-Muslim violence

Hundreds of police and troops restored order in central Myanmar on Wednesday after a fresh outbreak of sectarian violence in which one man was killed after Buddhist mobs trashed property owned by Muslims following a minor street incident.

Pakistan battles to separate religious from secular

Pakistan is a country in transition and struggling to come to grips with its past while its future hangs quite questionably in the balance in the current election run-up and the effort to provide a free, fair and secular election process.

Dialogue between religions in Asia "for the common good"

Asia’s rapid growth and increasing inequality as a result are weakening spiritual life and posing a challenge which Asia’s many faiths could and should face together, Cardinal Fernando Filoni said at the end of a major Vatican conference this week.

Myanmar: Interaith Youth and Racism

Around 30 young people - Christians, Muslims and Buddhists - have launched an anti-racism campaign in Yangon as a response to sectarian violence in the country.

Western Papua: SBY holds key to peace talks

Religious leadersfrom Papua met with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono last year to discuss possible peace talks.

Muslim Presence in South Korea

Muslims are a tiny minority in South Korea, but their numbers are increasing with a recent influx of foreign workers, who, in turn, spread their religion to native Koreans.

Vietnam allows Catholic groups to offer healthcare

Church workers and government officials in a northern diocese are being allowed to provide free healthcare to thousands of poor people in two provinces.

Hong Kong Interfaith History

A group of religious leaders have donated more than 3,400 documents and images as well as a time capsule to a university, to help preserve the history of interreligious dialogue efforts in Hong Kong.

Myanmar: Government probes deadly school fire

After thousands attended the funerals of 13 children who died in a school fire in Yangon, the government announced yesterday that an investigation is taking place.

Buddhists killed in Indonesian detention centre

Eight Myanmar Buddhists have been killed after they were attacked by a group of Muslims, also from Myanmar, at a detention centre in Indonesia.

Myanmar religious riots: Emergency rule declared in Meiktila, 20 dead

Meiktila: State of emergency has been declared by Myanmar President U Thein Sein on Friday, in four townships here as riot between Buddhists and Muslims, which killed at least 20 people escalated after its outbreak on Wednesday, as per reports.

Priest wins prize for Papua peace efforts

Activist Priest Father Neles Tebay Kebadabi will collect South Korea’s prestigious Tji Hak-soon Justice and Peace Award on Wednesday for his struggle to bring an end to conflict in Indonesia’s easternmost province, Papua.

Myanmar and the Asian and the Pacific Interfaith Youth Network

On February 20th – 22nd 2013, Religions for Peace International convened a meeting in Yangon, Myanmar, of the Asia and the Pacific Interfaith Youth Network

Myanmar: Church leaders make rare call for peace

Catholic and Protestant leaders in Myanmar have issued a rare statement calling for an end to conflict in northern Kachin state where three civilians including an elderly deacon were killed by artillery fire on Monday.

Asia-Pacific Women Issue Statement on Sustainable Dialogue

An Asia-Pacific regional women’s dialogue organized by UN Women and partners has issued a statement calling on governments and agencies to address violence against women, workers’ rights, and access to sexual and reproductive health, in their quest for sustainable development.

Vietnam’s Buddhist response to disaster

Buddhist monks, nuns and their followers have long contributed to Vietnam’s disaster relief efforts

MP’s call to burn Bibles heightens election tensions in Malaysia

Malaysia’s Bar Council said on Wednesday an independent member of parliament should be prosecuted on grounds he called for the mass burning of Bibles as religious tensions flare ahead of a tight election which must be held within months.

Sarawak YMCA Leader Lau gives thumbs-up to inter-religious dialogue

SIBU: YMCA Sibu president Temenggong Vincent Lau Lee Ming is all for regular dialogues among different faiths as advocated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Malaysia: PM Najib gives assurance to Malaysian Christians

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has assured the country's Christians that he will remain open to hearing their concerns, hopes and ideas.

Vietnam and control of places of worship

A Vatican diplomat was banned from meeting Catholics in Vietnam after authorities said the two mission stations “have not been recognized as religious organizations belonging to the Catholic Church.”

Bangladesh probe into anti-Buddhist violence

The Bangladesh High Court yesterday ordered the government to form a judicial inquiry committee to probe anti-Buddhist violence starting in September which caused the destruction of about 19 Buddhist temples and 100 homes in Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong.

DISASTERS: Asia’s 2012 figures and trends

BANGKOK, 11 December 2012 (IRIN) - The good news: fewer people died from natural disasters in Asia in 2012 than in previous years.

Thailand: Defending human rights and dignity affirmed as a core religious duty

Participants in a World Council of Churches (WCC) human rights training event in Bangkok, Thailand have affirmed that defending “rights and dignity of the voiceless, persecuted, socially marginalised and alienated is the responsibility of all God’s people.”

Myanmar Religious Leaders Meet with President Obama

Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Muslim leaders of Religions for Peace (RfP) Myanmar met with US President Barak Obama during his historic visit to the country on 19 November 2012.

Analysis: “Deradicalization” - Is Indonesia’s approach working?

JAKARTA, 15 October 2012 (IRIN) - Ideology that fuels violent acts in the name of Islam remains potent in Indonesia despite government efforts to “deradicalize” militants and prevent the spread of religious extremism.

Myanmar and Thai Monks Protest Bangladesh burning

YANGON, Myanmar - More than 100 monks in Myanmar have demonstrated at Bangladesh's embassy to protest recent attacks against Buddhist temples and homes in Myanmar's South Asian neighbour.

Thailand: Religious identity and the South

Religious leaders of different faiths should come together to promote the use of inter-religious cooperation to bring peace to Asean.

Vietnam: Workshop explores cults of Mother Goddesses

NAM DINH (VNS)— The Mother Goddesses religion plays an important role in the spiritual life of Vietnamese people and others in some areas in Southeast Asia, according to participants at a recent workshop in the northern province of Nam Dinh.

Dalai Lama Meets Vietnamese Devotees

Dharamshala: - A group of 102 visitors from Vietnam, about half from the North and half from the South, members of the Vietnamese CEO's Club, had a meeting with the spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama today, during which he encouraged them to ask him questions.

Bangladesh: Muslims destroy Buddhist sites

Indonesian President calls for mutual respect

New York. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called for mutual respect and understanding among peoples of different faiths and proposes an international instrument to prevent incitement of violence based on religions or beliefs, with the world confronted by “hatred and bigotry, intolerance and extremism.”

ASEAN InterReligious Network Formed

More than 200 religious leaders, representatives of interreligious councils and peace scholars from the Association of South Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states convened in Bangkok and Pattani, Thailand on 17-19 September 2012, to address the role of religion and interreligious cooperation in resolving conflicts and building peace in the ASEAN region.

Singapore condemns violence in Libya and offensive film

SINGAPORE: Singapore has condemned the violent attacks on the US Consulate in Benghazi, Libya that resulted in the deaths of US Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other US diplomatic staff on September 11.

Malaysia: Promoting Understanding and Harmony Among Adherents of all religions

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) recently celebrated its 30 years anniversary.

Interfaith Crisis on the Borderlands of Burma (Myanmar), Bangladesh, and India

The Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, disclosed at its summit, on August 16, that it would take the question of violence against Rohingya Muslims in Burma (Myanmar) to the United Nations. Previously, Saudi King Abdullah announced a donation of US$50 million for relief of the Rohingyas.

Laos: Abstinence sharpens the mind during Buddhist lent

Believers of the Buddhist tradition supply monks and novices with food and other daily necessities, as well as offering them candles, robes and flowers, in the hope it will help them concentrate on their meditation and other studies.

Indonesia's Religious Diversity under threat

There is growing concern about increasing intolerance towards religious minorities in Indonesia.

Cambodia: Community Peace Training Workshops

Alliance for Conflict Transformation Cambodia conducted follow up community peace training workshops during June, 2012.

Thailand: Award for Religion and Conflict Transformation Project by Japan

6 September 2012 | Bangkok, Thailand: Religions for Peace Interreligious Council of Thailand was awarded the Japanese government’s official development assistance grant for its conflict transformation work in southern Thailand

Religions for Peace Myanmar Launched

13 September 2012, Yangon, Myanmar: Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim communties in Myanmar together launched the Religions for Peace Myanmar as the country’s first full-fledged representative and action-oriented interreligious body for reconciliation, peace and development. Approximately 100 religious, diplomatic, political and civil society leaders in Myanmar and Religions for Peace International leaders joined the inauguration.

Cambodia: Muslim acceptance in Laos stark contrast to Myanmar intolerance

The imams of two mosques in Vientiane tell of fair treatment from the communist authorities, while expressing sadness and frustration at the treatment of Rohingya in the country next door.

Brunei: Kampung Visit to the Home minister of Religious Affairs

Bandar Seri Begawan, Aug. 26 - Minister of Religious Affairs, the Honourable Pg Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohammad bin Pg Hj Abdul Rahman today received a visit from the mosque's youth group and officers and fellow mosque imams in conjunction with Hari Raya celebrations.

Singapore: Breaking fast together shows trust

THE act of fast-breaking among Muslim as well as non-Muslim residents is a clear example of how a multiracial and multi-religious society can live with the spirit of tolerance, mutual trust and cooperation, said Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday.

Singapore: Youth speak on Interfaith

Peta Yang is the founding president of the National University of Singapore Students’ Interfaith group and is a Baha’i adherent.

Banki-Moon addresses Timor Leste University

UN Secretary General Banki-Moon visited Timor Leste in August and gave an address to the University of Timor Leste.

Book: Thai Kings and Buddhism

BANGKOK, 17 August 2012 – The Culture Ministry has been working on a special publication project, featuring various royal projects and initiatives to promote Buddhism in Thailand.

Vietnam: Religious Leaders Barred

Ho Chin Minh City — Authorities in Vietnam stop unsanctioned Buddhist monks from distributing food to veterans.

Vietnam: Policies ensure religious freedom

HA NOI — The State of Viet Nam has been implementing a variety of policies and measures to ensure that people fully enjoy rights to freedom of religion and belief.

Pakistan: Inter-faith Ulema Council being set up for religious harmony

Islamabad—Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that the government is going to constitute inter-faith council to create harmony in the country. In an interview with Radio Pakistan, he said the council will be comprised on Ulema of all religious sections and its chairmanship will be rotated among them after every three months.

Myanmar: Pillay concerned about human rights situation

GENEVA (27 July 2012) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Friday raised serious concerns about ongoing human rights violations in Myanmar’s Rakhine state after the violence between the Buddhist and Muslim communities there, urging a prompt, independent investigation.

Myanmar to allow publication of Religious Periodicals

The government in Burma is relaxing its media and publication guidelines, which includes religious publications.

Islamic humanism can keep Malaysia from blindly mimicking West's mistakes

Malaysia is a country unlike any other: full of promise and fragility, writes renowned Islamic author Tariq Ramadan.

Asian nations slammed in religious freedom report

China has reacted furiously to a US State Department report that says worldwide religious freedom is sliding backwards.

Senior Religious Leaders in Myanmar reject Violence

(Yangon, Myanmar)  Senior Buddhist, Muslim, Christian and Hindu leaders in Myanmar, collaborating as members of the working committee for Religions for Peace Myanmar, issued a multi-religious statement on June 18, 2012 in Yangon, Myanmar, to address the escalating violence.

Myanmar rejects Muslim crackdown concerns

YANGON (AFP) - Myanmar on Monday told a UN rights envoy it rejected accusations of abuse by security forces in the wake of communal unrest, after the United Nations raised fears of a crackdown on Muslims.

Indonesia: Mosques and churches in Tanjung Priok mirror of religious tolerance

There are interesting sights at No Way Enggano. 52 Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta where the mosque Masjid Al-Muqarrabin is built adjacent to the Protestant Church of Mahanaim.

Church in Indonesia Asks for Freedom to Worship

A Christian service of worship held beside a busy road in Jakarta is an unusual sight. However, the Gereja Kristen Indonesia (GKI) Taman Yasmin Church was left with no choice.

Australia extends Ramadan Message

The holy month of Ramadan begins this week and I extend my best wishes to Muslims in Australia and around the world. Ramadan Kareem.

Music Without Borders In Indonesia

Some bands perform for the money, while others hope for the fame that comes with a chart-topping song. Despite the temptations of fame and fortune that motivate many musicians, there are groups who are inspired purely by music and the opportunity to share its powerful message. Debu, a 15-piece ensemble hailing from the United States and Indonesia, is a band with this mission.