ASIATODAY.ID, DHAKA – For the first time, Indonesia collaborated with Nepal and Bangladesh to hold a Dialogue on Democracy in Inclusive Society (DDIS) in Dhaka, Bangladesh and Kathmandu, Nepal on 15-22 March 2024.
“Does Democracy Deliver Results?” This is one of the key questions that emerged in the forum.
DDIS is a forum for constructive dialogue, exchange of ideas and collaborative cooperation between elements of government, media and civil society organizations (CSO).
DDIS is also a concrete implementation of the promotion of the values of the Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) and Indonesia’s soft power assets related to pluralism, inclusiveness and democracy. The results of the DDIS output will be followed up into recommendations for further cooperation between Indonesia, Bangladesh and Nepal.
The forum presented a number of speakers including, Dr. Mohammad Hasan Ansori, Executive Director of Habibie Center Indonesia, Dr. Philips J. Vermonte, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, International Islamic University of Indonesia and Uni Zulfiani Lubis, Editor in Chief of IDN Times.
Meanwhile, from Nepal and Bangladesh, Dr. Sadeka Halim, Vice Chancellor of Jaganath University, Ambassador Abdul Hannan, Dr. Lailufar Yasmin, Dean of the Faculty of International Relations of the University of Dhaka, Mr. Nayeemul Islam Khan, Editor Media Daily Group, Prof. Dr .Meena Vaidya Malla, professor from Tribhuvan University, Dr. Nishchal Nath Pandey, Director of the Center for South Asian Studies (CSAS), and former Ambassador to Nepal Dr. Khagnath Adhikari and Dr. Narad Nath Bharadwhaj.
“This forum is a form of Indonesia’s real commitment to maintaining democracy and an inclusive society, and we are very happy to be able to work together with Bangladesh and Nepal,” said the Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy, Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Siti Nugraha Mauludiah in various articles as quoted from the broadcast. press, Friday, March 23 2024.
“The three countries agree on the urgency of cross-sector collaboration in maintaining pluralism. “All parties need to have the same rationale that inclusiveness strengthens positivity with democracy that upholds the concept of pluralism,” added Siti.
The Indonesian Ambassador to Bangladesh and Nepal, Heru Subolo, stated that DDIS is a medium for strengthening inter-community contact between Indonesia, Bangladesh and Nepal.
“In this forum, we not only dialogue about the principles and practices of democratic experience, but we also actively exchange ideas and collaborate opportunities,” he said.
Resource persons from Indonesia agreed that Indonesia’s economic progress needs to be supported by a good increase in the Human Development Index (HDI). This will be proof that democracy delivers, providing adequate access to health, education, a decent living and legal protection.
The speakers also highlighted that the need for media and digital literacy is urgent. Netizens must have the ability to analyze, evaluate and detect the credibility of information spread in cyberspace.
One of the speakers from Bangladesh, Dr. Sadeka Halim, Vice Chancellor, from Jagannath University said that DDIS is a timely forum to help answer today’s democratic challenges.
“Public trust needs to be restored, one of which is by overcoming the issue of power imbalance between the government and non-government actors,” he concluded.
Meanwhile Prof. Dr. Meena Vaidya Malla from Tribhuvan University emphasized that the voices of minorities, marginalized groups and the less privileged are the core of a plural society.
“When their voices are heard clearly is when we know that democracy is functioning optimally,” he said.
The event also received positive reviews from the participants who attended, including students from Dhaka University who paid special attention to the practice of press freedom in Indonesia.
The Nepali audience showed special interest in digital media developments that had been implemented by Indonesia, especially regarding regulations and media “check and balance” mechanisms on government work.
Several Nepali students also asked about the possibility of scholarships to pursue higher education in Indonesia.
On the sidelines of DDIS activities, Director General Siti as Head of the Delegation had the opportunity to pay a courtesy visit to the Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nepal.
Indonesia, Bangladesh and Nepal agreed to explore the possibility of holding the 2nd DDIS with Indonesia as host in 2025.
DDIS Bangladesh and Nepal were attended by more than 135 people from government think tanks, academics, civil society organizations (CSO), diplomatic corps and media from both countries, including the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs , University of Dhaka, Jagannath University, Media Daily Our Time, Tribhuvan University and Center for South Asian Studies. (AT Network)
Check out other news and articles at Google News and WA Channel