October 2009

WCRP/Japan Representative Attends Conference on Nonviolence in Afghanistan

The Centre for Strategic Studies of Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry hosted an international conference in Kabul on October 4 on "Non-violent Concepts & Movements in South Asia." Some 150 people took part, including government officials and researchers from six countries in South Asia. Rev. Keiji Kunitomi, deputy director of the General Affairs Bureau of Rissho Kosei-kai, attended in his capacity as a councilor of the Japanese Committee of the World Conference of Religions for Peace.

The purpose of the conference was to find ways to build peace in Afghanistan in the light of nonviolent movements in South Asia led by political and spiritual leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi. The participants discussed the religious origins of the ideal of nonviolence, and nonviolent movements throughout history.

Rev. Kunitomi explained how the Buddhist teaching of nonviolence influences the activities of Religions for Peace. Among other things, he announced its support for a peace process in Afghanistan to be promoted by Religions for Peace later in the year.

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