Indonesian History Professor Honored by British Queen

Jakarta Globe, Nurfika Osman | September 28, 2010

History professor Azyumardi Azra, pictured here on the right in this file photo, is the first Indonesian to receive the Commander of the Order of the British Empire, one of the highest honors granted by the Queen of the United Kingdom, for services to interfaith understanding.

Jakarta. British Ambassador to Indonesia Martin Hatfull presented Azyumardi Azra with an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to interfaith understanding on Tuesday.

Azyumardi, a professor of history at State Islamic University (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah in Jakarta, is the first Indonesian to receive the CBE, one of the highest honors granted by the Queen of the United Kingdom.

“Every year Her Majesty the Queen graciously grants honorary awards to people from all walks of life around the world who have made significant differences to their community,” Hatfull said.

“Today I have had the honor of presenting Professor Azyumardi Azra with this award and I wish to pass on my sincerest congratulations to him.”

As one of Indonesia’s leading Islamic scholars, and a former co-chair of the United Kingdom-Indonesia Islamic Advisory Group, Azyumardi has demonstrated his dedication to promoting interfaith understanding over many years.

The British government recognizes that such work is essential to promoting stronger links between the major faiths of the world, he said.

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Ambassador: people in U.K. need enlightenment on Indonesian Muslims

Antara News, Friday, September 3, 2010 12:34 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - British ambassador to Indonesia Martin Alan Hatfull said that people in his country do not know much about Indonesian Muslims so it is his responsibility to convince them that Islam is not identical with violence.

British ambassador to Indonesia
Martin Alan Hatfull

Speaking to the media during a fast breaking gathering at his residence here Thursday evening, Ambassador Hatfull said that the British Embassy here has various programs aimed at convincing the British people that Islam is not identical with violence.

Some Muslim figures and clerics attended the occasion, including Syekh Habib Saggaf bin Mahdi, chairperson of the Jakarta-based al Ashriyyah Nurul Imam Islamic boarding school.

Citing the September 9 tragedy in the U.S. as a source for the incorrect idea about Islam, Hatfull added that the British people reject violence for whatever reason, including religion, and they stick to the tradition of tolerance and mutual respect.

The U.K. currently has some 2 million Muslims citizens. "They are certainly proud of being Muslims," he pointed out.

In recent years, the U.K. has moved more decisively to know Islam and Muslims and, and in the process of encouraging closer relations between Muslims and non-Muslims in many countries, including Indonesia. One of the programs is Mosaic International Summer School (MISS).

Mosaic was officially launched in November 2007 but actually started in January 2007 by the Prince of Wales who asked his charity, Business in the Community, to convene a gathering aimed at addressing Muslim community-based interests and issues.

In the UK, Mosaic helps eliminate social barriers between Muslim and non Muslim communities, through supporting young Muslims and others in deprived areas.

Nearing ending his third term in Indonesia, this country is Hatfull`s first post as British Ambassador, as the father of two, was a senior official with the British Embassy in Tokyo and Brussels.

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President, Prince Charles to Discuss Natural Conservation

Jakarta Globe, May 27, 2010

(L to R) Prince Charles of Wales, Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Crown Princess Mette-Marit pose for a photograph following the International conference on climate and deforestation held in Oslo on May 26, 2010. (Photo AFP/Gorm Kallestad)

Oslo. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is slated to meet the Prince of Wales, better known as Prince Charles of the United Kingdom.

Presidential spokesman Julian A Pasha said in Oslo, Norway, on Thursday that the meeting will be held on the sidelines of the Climate and Forestry Conference at Holmenkollen Park Hotel Rica in Oslo.

“It would still be about the environment,” Julian said, adding that the meeting is held at the request of Prince Charles.

The meeting between the President and the British crown prince will be held for about 25 minutes before the head of state receives UNEP executive director Archim Steiner and UNDP director Helen Clark.

Prince Charles has always been heavily involved in environmental issues.

The former husband of the late Lady Diana also pointed out that the management of nature is also called on by all religious creeds.

In his visit to Indonesia, he also visited Jambi to give aid for forest conservation.

Prince Charles’ idea of fund raising was a great support to the Kyoto Protocol and showed that the developed countries already had a wish to help the developing countries overcome climate change.

He also used the opportunity of G20 in London in April 2009 to express the idea of fund raising for the safety of forests in the world.

Prince Charles invited G20 heads of state and government to attend the 40 minute meeting at Clarence House in London.

One of the agendas forwarded by Britain as host of G20 in 2009 was low-carbon emission development as a package of the long-term agenda of rebuilding the world economy.

Antara