CONVERSATIONS WITH DR. CHANDRA MUZZAFFAR – Mr. Wilfred D'Costa (India), Dr. Elijah Mbogori (Kenya), Mr. Mano Michinori (Japan), and Dr. Farsijana Adeney-Risakotta (Indonesia), along with some members of the audience, gave their reactions and questions on the keynote speech of Dr. Muzaffar. Host-moderator was Mr. Liberato Bautista of the United Methodist Church. On the comment that globalization is not new but is a process that has occurred in the form of colonialization, Dr. Muzaffar said that while globalization indeed has elements of the colonial past, it is much more complex today because of the existence of international institutions (e.g., the UN, WTO), financial markets, and technologies that are truly global – i.e., they cross borders and transcend boundaries. Capital, goods and services today flow from different parts of the world and not just from traditional centers of power in the north. Among the more contentious points was the issue of armed struggle and various methods used to achieve liberation. Dr. Muzaffar pointed out as an example the use of violence by the Palestinians against civilians which cannot be understood by people, including those who feel compelled to support the Palestinian cause. On the question of why in the present context Islam has been equated with terrorism, Dr. Muzaffar said this view is a self-serving discourse perpetuated by people who refuse to come to terms with the truth, and that is, that Muslims are reacting in a violent manner simply because their lands have been occupied, their resources have been stolen, and their women, men and children have been killed. He added that if those who make the "Muslim terrorist" a convenient enemy would face the truth, the answer to the problem of terrorism is very simple: "Cease your hegemony, get out of Iraq, get out of Palestine, get out of Afghanistan, and treat these people like human beings."
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First People's Forum on Peace for Life | PUBLIC FORUM | 2004 December 1 | Davao City, Philippines
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