Asian Sites of Conscience Network

Promoting Cultures of Peace and Pluralism in the Wake of Ethnic and Religious Conflict
Led by the Liberation War Museum, this network works with Sites of Conscience in Asia to use histories of both conflict and harmony to model ethnic and religious pluralism and inspire young people to become actively engaged in promoting those values.

Participants

Gandhi Memorial Museum
Contact: Raha Naba Kumar, Project Coordinator
P.O. Joyag
Upazilla Begumgonj, Noakhali, Bangladesh
Tel: +88-03-221-8083
E-mail: gandhiashram_bd@gmail.com

The Gandhi Memorial Museum remembers a transformative visit of Mahatma Gandhi to this small village. In 1946, the villages of the Noakhili district suffered brutal rapes, killings, and arson in a Hindu-Muslim riot. In response, Gandhi vowed to walk throughout the villages to promote peace and tolerance of all religions. The house in which Gandhi stayed in the village of Joyag was later donated to preserve the memory of his campaign, and to promote the cause of peace among different communities. The Museum carries on his legacy by preaching peace between Hindus and Muslims to young people, and by providing social and economic development assistance to local women and children.

Museum of Courage and Resistance
Contact: Marissa Romero, Museum Curator and Librarian
45 Saint Mary St.
Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines
Tel: +63-2437-8054
Fax: +63-2911-3643
Email: tfdp1974@yahoo.com
Website: www.tfdp.net

The Museum of Courage and Resistance (also known as The Martial Law Museum) was founded by the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines as part of the search for justice for the victims of the martial law regime. It was designed to serve as a constant reminder of all citizens’ obligation to practice sensitive and courageous vigilance, so that the atrocities and repression under martial law, in any of its forms, could never occur again. The Museum opened to the public on September 20, 1999, the eve of the 27th anniversary of the declaration of martial law by the late dictator President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose House
Contacts: Krishna Bose, Chairperson; Sumantra Bose, Professor
38/2 Lala Pajpat Rai
Sarani, Kolkata, India
Tel: +91-332-475-6139
Fax: +91-332-474-8255
Email: krishnabose2003@yahoo.com
Website: www.netaji.org

The Chandra Bose House was the family home of famous anti-colonial leader Chandra Bose. The museum examines the life and values of this famous leader in India’s independence struggle and explores the legacies – both positive and negative – of that struggle today.

Nonviolence International South East Asia (NISEA)
Contact: Amreen Chowdhury, Research Associate
104/20 Latprao Soi 124
Wangtonglang, Bangkok, 10310, Thailand
Tel: +66-02-934-3289
Fax: +66-02-934-3289
E-mail: amreen@hz.net
Website: www.nonviolenceinternational.net/seasia/

Nonviolence International was founded in 1989 with the intent to provide assistance to individuals, organizations and governments seeking nonviolent means to bring about social or political change. Nonviolence International’s Southeast Asia office was opened in January of 1992. NISEA endeavors to strengthen the ability of human society to use the power of nonviolence to bring about change which reflects truth, justice and the desire for human development at the personal, social, economic and political levels. NISEA works throughout the region to promote nonviolent action and reduce the use of violence.

Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust
Contacts: Amrut Bhai Modi, Secretary; Tridip Suhrud, Advisor
Gandhi Ashram
Ahmedabad, 380027, India
Tel: +91-272-755-7277
Fax: +91-79-7560561
E-mail: gandhiashram@satyam.net.in, tridip_suhrud@daiict.ac.in
Website: www.mkgandhi.org/museum/museum_libraries.htm

This complex was Gandhi’s home until 1930, and displays a rich collection of artifacts and documents from Gandhi’s life. Gandhi devoted much time to preaching religious tolerance in this city. In addition to telling the story of a single leader, the site also seeks to provide an example of a model community based on humanistic rules and values.