INTERVIEW WITH PROF. JOHAN GALTHUNG – FIRST HOLDER OF
TUN MAHATHIR CHAIR FOR GLOBAL PEACE-
PERDANA
GLOBAL PEACE FOUNDATION (PGPF)
ISLAMIC
INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA (UIAM)
7th MARCH 2015 – 10AM.
Siti Ruqaiyah Hashim (SRH) is a free lance
writer based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Born in 1930
in Oslo Norway. Professor Johan Galthung(Prof.JG) known world wide as The
Father of
Peace Studies started Peace Research Institute Oslo or PRIO in 1959. It’s the
world first Peace
Studies Institute formed. Since then,
more than 500 Peace Studies centres and schools in
universities all over the world established and many of them were with his initiatives
and advises . In 1993 he founded TRANSCEND Peace University world’s first
online Peace
Studies University. Together with it, he founded TRANSCEND International which is a global
network for Peace, Development and
Environment engaged in mediations and researches
on peace making and conflicts solving all over the world.
Inspired by
Mahatma Gandhi’s non-confrontational peace principles, five years before
formation of
PRIO, Johan Galthung published Gandhi’s
Political Ethics a book he wrote
when he was
only twenty five. Since then, he had authored and co-authored some 150
books, 1600
papers and articles focused on peace and related issues. The non-violent
conflict
resolutions expert who wrote ‘The Fall of US Empire – And Then What?’ in 2009
said in
Radio Democracy Now (USA) interview few years ago, “ I love the American
Republic. But I hate
the US Empire. “ talked to this writer few days before Perdana Global Peace Foundation’s
(PGPF) recent International Conference on The New World Order A Recipe For War or
Peace! His latest research and book Abolishing War and Clash of Culture were launched
during the conference.
Professor
Johan Galthung was the first holder of Mahathir PGPF Chair for Global Peace in
Islamic
International University Malaysia (IIUM) and his tenure ended after the International Conference.
SRH: Prof Johan, Please tell me
more about your being in Malaysia since a year ago and what have you been doing?
Prof. JG: I am
known as The Father of Peace Studies and maybe by now Grand father or great grand father of Peace Studies.
SRH: With
150 books?
Prof. JG: Its not the question of what I had done but
the fantastic waves of all over the world of Peace Studies (centres). In 1961, there is not even one peace studies
school but now we have 500 all over the world. We have to educate
people on conflicts solving, peace making and other related issues after so long we had
glamorized war. War is bad.
Anyway, when I was invited here in UIAM, there
is no slightest interest, no students, no professors, no collegue. So it’s a flop of
me staying here. But two things happen positively:
One is the fact that UIAM is The
International Islamic University of
Malaysia.
And secondly, Tun Mahathir and The Perdana
Global Peace Foundation-PGPF. They are asking me to do a study to criminalize war. They
have a mock tribunal-basically against US and Israel (on conflicts with Palestine) particularly. And also sitting on Sunni-Shia
conflicts.
So I turn myself into research. And two
books come out of it:
1) Abolishing War
2) The Clash of Culture
3) The Art of Peace - which I just
finished yesterday.
At the conference on Monday these books will be handed to PGPF. So I am happy
with the outcome of the researches and the books. Due to the lack of interest of the
University, I cut off 1 year instead of 2 years of staying here. The last thing I worked on here was finishing
28 lectures meant for 14 weeks of
one semester on Peace Studies. And it
was announced to the students and only two students
turned up one a Turkish another one a
Sri Lankan. Not even a single Malaysian. It’s a bit
strange about the reception of the
people in the University.
So I
make the best of it. Since I’ve got no
teaching work to do, I turned to writing books. I am also mediating (conflicts) all over
the world in practice. From sitting in
Afghanistan talking to
the Taliban and contact with Al-Qaeda, contact with Boko Haram and in Turkey with all the (conflicting ) parties. I am also sitting with all the ( concerned) parties in Ukraine. You must sit down and talk (with all parties) so that all will accept (solutions of conflicts). You must mediate with all of them.
SRH: What do you think of some peace
movements organizations efforts especially the NGOs?
Prof. JG: Some peace movements are too vague and too
much talk. You can have things like United Nations of the World or Global Peace but you must do very concrete things. It needs creativity and hard
work (not just talk about it). Only
then it will work. It works many times that way anyway.
IPPNW (International
Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War) is very good (effort) to prevent radiation from harming
human’s body (and survival) but the conflicts need to be resolved. You must know about
peace making, (mediating) and conflicts
solving. No point bringing in a nuclear scientist
(or whoever) into a (any peace) movement
because you must know about (the mechanisms
of ) conflict solving.
You need to ask: Mr. Taliban what sort of Afghanistan you would
like to see coming into if you are in power?
These are the issues you must address and mediate with other
groups in the conflict and find an acepted solutions by all. You need to be creative and do hard work
and concrete efforts made towards solvingthe problems.
SRH: You had been in Malaysia
before and what do you think of this country now?
Prof. JG: I was teaching in University of Science in
Penang from 1974 untill 1978 which is 5 years. I was
together with Prof. Chandra Muzzafar who was also in Social Science School with me
then. Malaysia was strong during Tun Mahathir’s time. He created Modern Malaysia.
Modern Economy of Malaysia.
SRH: About Palestine issue, how long
more do you think its going to take and when will it ends?
Prof. JG. Its coming to an end. Sweden already
recognized (Palestine’s sovereignity). Three important parliaments
, England, France and Spain are also voting for Palestine. Though its not binding to
the governments (decisions), the favour is very much for Palestine. Even the EU
Parliament is showing that tendency. The
mood and the support is very clear
for Palestine. Things are moving and its very much for Palestine. But Malaysia should do more for support to Palestine.
Malaysia used the term
‘State Terrorism’ towards Israel and
that is really something strong. Though I
am not sure the (present) Prime Minister
(of Malaysia) uses that term
(also).
And
Obama had muted Netanyahu recently by not wanting to see him.
The ICC (International
Criminal Court) in this matter is also moving. If Malaysia could support more The ICC for Palestine’s (causes ) it will be
good. I would say, by 2020 it ( the
Palestine-Israel conflict) should be over. Maybe sooner. It will be like the South African scenario after apartheid was abolished.
It will go back to normal (relationship) with the
rest of the world.
SRH: Malaysia had been giving
a lot in humanitarian efforts towards Palestine.
Prof. JG: That’s the covert operation. And its very
good. But political support for Palestine need more to be done.
SRH: What about the IS (Islamic
States) conflicts?Aren't these issues cropping up due to reactions on US policies
in Middle East?
Prof. JG: There are many
areas one has to look at. One aspect is
what you had said just now. Secondly, that areas – Syria and Iraq had a
very violent history since long ago. Since 4000
years ago during the Assyrian Empire. And from historical point of view,
the Ottoman times also was a violent (era). So many hatred (and
animosities) are there.
But a Caliph brought peace and
unification of that area. So the longing for a Caliph is still there.
A Caliph who could unify and bring peace (and greatness) for the area. And the longing for a Caliphate
(state) is a Muslim right that the Western cannot stand against (if achieved).
George Bush (Jr) said
God asked him to democratize Middle
East. That’s blasphemy to me!
Anybody who talked like that is not being sensical at all (and insulting)
to religion.
SRH: Few years back, there were accusations
about you of being anti- Semitic because you said the Jews
controlled US economy and media. Your comments?
Prof.JG: Many years ago, I debated in Qatar defending the rights of Israel
to exist.Is that being anti-Semitic? I
defended (the rights) Israel infront of many Arab League Nations. But
I insisted that (Israel) should
go back to the borders of 1967.
US and Israel hold on to the
doctrines of ( being) The Chosen People and the Promised Land. But that
land is not empty! This cultural alliance which is being in the
same way means they have to be strong. That’s why all the mutual
support and assistance between
these powers are strong.
I am not prejudiced against Jews.
But Wall Street is 70 % controlled by Jews.
American voters wants victory not
peace. I proposed the
12620 points. Which is package of ideas
for:
1 recognition of Palestine
(nationhood)
2 states
(solutions) of Palestine and Israel
6 communities (neighboring) of
Lebanon, Syria, Jordan,
Egypt, Israel and Palestine.
20 members of
co-inhabitant of all (the different races)
in the area (Middle East).
But no one coming to the idea
of recognizing Palestine. Because they
don’t want solutions
but expansion (that’s what they want).
So a Basel (Switzerland)
based Peace Institution suspended me. Though I helped to form that
institution long ago.
SRH: Will you come again to
Malaysia?
Prof. JG: If I should come to
Malaysia again its because someone wants me to have a look at the
conflicts. There are conflicts in
Malaysia, not the issues of racisms or seditious.
But conflicts. So If I am being asked to look into it, I will come again.
Note: The above article is the full interview with Prof.Johan Galthung.
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