G

adjah Mada University’s Center for Peace and Security Studies (PSKP) is set to host an international seminar on peace building in Yogyakarta from Friday to Monday.

Titled, ‘Comparative Peace Building in Asia: National Transition from Ethnic Conflict to Authoritarianism,” the seminar will hear a keynote speech from the governor of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) Agus Widjojo on military reform, democratic transition and national reconciliation in Indonesia.

“This seminar is being held to reflect the transformation and contribution of democratization processes in Asian countries to peace building in the region in general and in Indonesia in particular,” PSKP head M. Najib Azca said on Thursday.

The seminar, held in cooperation with the London School of Economics, University of York, United Kingdom and the Australian National University, would be a medium for the development of conflict resolution and peace studies in Asia, he said. It will also facilitate exchanges of knowledge and experiences among all the stakeholders involved in the promotion of peace in the area.

Two outcomes are expected to come from the seminar, Najib added. The first are publications in the forms of journals and books according to the theme of the seminar. Second is policy advocacy especially for the government of Indonesia and civil societies at the regional level.

The seminar is the second of a series of three seminars held on comparative peace building in Asia. The first seminar was held in Sri Lanka last year. The third is to be conducted next year in London.