Learning for Peace

I believe research should be a means to promote a just society whereby everyone has equal opportunity to be heard and to be understood. As a researcher, we play a crucial role not to replicate dominant narratives, but also bringing up the voice of the marginalised. And when I mention the marginalised, it is not enough to only cover those religious minorities. They are not monolithic. We need to also be aware of the power structure within their communities. This can refer to various things. First , there are diverse religious denominations. Some are more well-known than others, thus are better represented in focus group discussion or quoted more in research. Our effort to engage the lesser-known denominations is essential. Second , there is organisational structure within each religious community. Chairpersons or those holding authority are generally better represented in public discussion (seminar), interview, and other events. We need to also engage laypersons in research and events. ...

I never considered myself an activist. I once thought activists are those marching and protesting on the road. I thought activism conveys a negative tone: those who solely make noises and oppose government policy. I also thought activists are those voicing human rights discourse with foreign supports and thus harming Indonesia's interests, something which has been against my heart. I had always dreamed of becoming a diplomat for my beloved homeland. Even when I no longer dream of serving my country as a diplomat as I have another calling now, I still love this country and would not want to cause any harm. When I first started working at the SETARA Institute, I did not call myself an activist. Well, I realise I do research and advocacy, but I called myself a researcher who conducts both research and advocacy. Only until a senior activist I admire invited my colleague and I to meet over a cup of coffee, I started to rethink the definition of 'activist'. He sent me a Google ...

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Four days ago, I attended a discussion on a draft law on interreligious harmony in Indonesia. This discussion was attended by representatives from NGOs. Everyone was expected to share his/her own view or feedback to the draft law. I saw most of the participants were youth while some other were more senior and experienced activists holding an important position in the NGO or a government institution. As in other discussion involving both youths and seniors, there is a tendency that the youth play a more passive role compared to the senior. This is because, as youth, some of us might feel insignificant and inferior. We choose not to speak and just let seniors speak. Of course there are also youth who are confident enough to speak up, but I often see the unconfident ones. And to be honest, I sometimes fall to the unconfident category, too! When the forum is dominated by seniors, I tend to just remain silent. I have some ideas on my mind, but I'm not sure if this is good enough. I some...

Some days before my bachelor’s thesis defense, I was very nervous if I could not answer examiners’ questions. But after days of self-talk, I began to stop worrying as I calmed myself that I had done my best and no matter how much effort I put to do my research well, there would always be things I still did not know. I realised I was not expected to know everything I researched about. I also realised that even though it is a thesis defense, it doesn’t mean I have to defend everything in my thesis. Instead, when the examiners spot some weaknesses in my thesis, I have to admit them. I reassured myself: Isn’t it what researchers are supposed to do?   Researchers (and generally all humans) should be humble to acknowledge their limitations as human beings , be willing to receive feedback with an open heart, and learn to be better from the feedback. I then recalled attending a conference where an Australian professor gave a public lecture. During the Q&A session, one conference partic...

Publications * means co-authored article/book Op-eds Ahmadiyah mosque attack exposes challenges of peacebuilding in West Kalimantan (Indonesia at Melbourne, 26 May 2022) Ahmadiyah: In search of sustainable interfaith harmony  (The Jakarta Post, 17 December 2021) Journal Articles Interfaith Diplomacy as A Path for Israel-Indonesia Relations (Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore, 4 July 2023) * with Nazhath Faheema Jaringan Advokasi Keuskupan Dili dalam Referendum Timor Timur | English: Advocacy N etworks of Dili Diocese in East Timor Referendum (Analisis CSIS, Vol. 49, No. 1, June 2020) Book Inklusi Jemaat Ahmadiyah Indonesia Dalam Keindonesiaan | English: The Social Inclusion of Indonesian Ahmadiyah Congregation (Pustaka Masyarakat Setara, November 2021) * with Ikhsan Yosarie and Sayyidatul Insiyah Reports Laporan Kebebasan Beragama/Berkeyakinan 2022 | English: The 2022 Report on Freedom of Religion/Belief in Indonesia Laporan Kebebasan Beragama/Berkeyakinan...