Japanese Peace Activists Meet Jusuf Kalla, Ask To Help Solve Conflicts In Asia

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - Two peace activists from the Sasakawa Peace Foundation Japan, Sunami and Akiko Horiba met former Vice President Jusuf Kalla at the Imperial Hotel Tokyo, Wednesday, May 11.

These two peace activists came to ask for advice and thoughts and experiences from Jusuf Kalla, who has been known as one of the figures actively promoting peace in Asia.

"We came to see Jusuf Kalla, to explore his invaluable experience for the development of the program being initiated by the Sasakawa Foundation", said Dr. Sunami in a written statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo received in Jakarta, Wednesday, May 11.

Sunami and Akiko Horiba explained the activities of the Sasakawa Foundation which has been active in pioneering conflict resolution in several Asian countries.

To strengthen peace efforts, his party asked for advice and even Jusuf Kalla's direct involvement, considering his experiences in various conflict areas such as Poso, Ambon, Aceh, and Afghanistan and his experience as a speaker at various domestic and foreign forums.

A spokesperson for Jusuf Kalla, Husain Abdullah, who accompanied the meeting, said that JK responded positively to the expectations of the Sasakawa Foundation.

Jusuf Kalla, on that occasion, expressed his willingness to help and cooperate with the Sasakawa Foundation and also gave some conflict resolution tips to Sunami and Akiko.

According to Kalla, peace is like selling a car, the results achieved in the negotiations are only the initial stage, and must be accompanied by after-sales service.

“Maintaining the peace or the agreements that have been reached. So that it can survive or be sustainable", he said as quoted from Antara.

The Indonesian Ambassador to Japan, Heri Akhmadi, who accompanied Jusuf Kalla to receive the two Japanese peace activists, welcomed the invitation to cooperate with the Sasakawa Foundation.

He hopes to increase cooperation between Asian countries and Indonesia's role in peace. The cooperation they want can start by building a dialogue or a limited preliminary discussion that will be held next month.