November 13, 2008

Thursday, 13 November

From our record of the proceeding of the conference, please find excerpt from the welcoming remarks during the Opening Session of the ABC9 by Prof Umar A. Jenie:

The National Bioethics Commission (KBN) welcomes you all to the Hall of the State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga to attend the Opening Ceremony of 9th Asian Bioethics Conference (ABC-9).

The ABC-9 is organized jointly by the National Bioethics Commission (KBN), The Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), The State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga, The Asian Bioethics Association (ABA), and the Regional Office in SHS Asia Pacific UNESCO. It is also supported by the State Ministry of Research and Technology, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, and Gadjah Mada University (UGM).


Indonesia is an archipelago country; the only maritime continent in the world comprises 18,000 islands, and coastal length of 108,000 km, known as cultural diversity country. There are more than 100 tribes living in Indonesian archipelago. Indonesia is also known as a mega-biodiversity country. In short, Indonesia is multi-cultural, multi-ethnical, multi biological-richness country.

Yogyakarta is situated around 600 km southeast of Jakarta. It was a Capital City of Sultanate of Mataram (known as Islamic Mataram) during 17th – early 20th Century, and it was also a Capital City of Indonesia during Revolution Era. Here we can find ancient mosques and Sultan palaces. Besides Islamic culture, within the city, there are so many Churches and Seminaries, Protestant and Catholic as well.

About 30 km east of Yogyakarta, we can see a beautiful 8th Century Hindus Temple called Prambanan Temple. It was built during the reign of King Raka-i Pikatan of the Mataram Hindus Kingdom.

Northwest of Yogyakarta (40 km away), there is a famous big and beautiful 9th Century Buddhist Temple, Borobudur Temple. This Temple was built during the reign of Queen Pramodhawardhani of the Buddhist Shaylendra Kingdom.•

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