MikeLigalig.com

BENARNEWS- Hassan Abdul Rahman, whose pen name is Astora Jabat, is a household name in Malaysia media for his controversial writings in Mingguan Malaysia, a Sunday edition of a local Malay daily Utusan Malaysia.
His writings are so controversial that the nation’s Islamic Development Department in 2013 branded the former Utusan journalist a supporter of “liberalism and pluralism.”
One of his most controversial writings is “The Prophet ordered us to reject hudud,” published in August 2002. Since then, hardliners have called his works deviant.
Astora also writes on the Deep South conflict – a natural topic for a man who hails from Narathiwat.
On air
Astora said his columns in Mingguan Malaysia have garnered at least 8,000 emails and letters along with two bullets from critics.
In 2013, Astora took his writings to the air, becoming a leading host for Media Selatan (South Media) station, a Thai-based political radio station that promotes debates on the conflict. Astora has more than 2 million followers across Asia.
Recently, Astora put down his pen and shut off his microphone, trading them for two wheels. The 62-year-old is on a cycling expedition across ASEAN countries to spread a message through his Bike for Peace expedition in the wake of Deep South insurgency.
In recent weeks, violence has escalated in the region, leaving at least 20 dead across the region since Feb. 10. The latest attacks occurred around the 56th anniversary of the founding of Barisan Revolusi Nasional – which remains the largest and most powerful of the armed separatist groups in Thailand’s predominantly Muslim Deep South.
On Sunday, rebels violated international law by taking over a hospital while attacking a military installation in Narathiwat province, the United Nations and Human Rights Watch said. The U.N. Human Rights Office for Southeast Asia (OCHCR) issued a statement Wednesday deploring the actions of between 10 and 50 rebels who reportedly seized the Cho-irong Hospital in Narathiwat for about 30 minutes while patients and medical staff were inside.
BenarNews met Astora in Kuala Lumpur, 1,400 km (870 miles) into his trip from Thailand in over two months.
He has met people along the way and took time to “explain and make them understand the conflict,” emphasizing that peace is the only way.
His self-sponsored expedition resulted from his passion for peace in his homeland. Although it is a small contribution, he believes everyone needs to play their part in the Deep South.
“In order to achieve peace, we must diversify our ways to achieve it, and my way of doing so is by cycling to all 10 ASEAN countries.
“We now have the locomotive to accomplish the peace declaration … and I am doing my part to help it accelerate along with other NGOs who want peace declaration to happen in Southern Thailand,” he told BenarNews in an exclusive interview.
Astora plans to share his writings and a video documentary of his journey.
“Hopefully, it will be televised in Thailand. I also hope people would enjoy and come together joining my cause for peace,” he said.
Risky ride
Astora has faced challenges throughout the first leg of the trip.
“There are militants in Southern Thailand and soldiers who are opposing the idea of the peace declaration because they think they are not quite ready to settle down just yet,” he said.
Astora’s journey began with a six-day ride from Pattani to Narathiwat with more than 30 cyclists from Mahidol University of Bangkok, Songkhla University in Pattani and cyclists from Southern Thailand.
Initially, Astora struggled and was often left behind since he is not a long-distance cyclist.
“It was a risky ride as I am prone to be the target to some of these militants as they know who I am and my mission behind this cause,” he said. “Eventually on the final day of the expedition in Southern Thailand, I got to cycle consistently, spearheaded the whole team throughout the day.”
On Feb. 1, Astora parted with the team and rode solo from Thailand to Malaysia – a 17-day ride of more than 800 km (497 miles) to reach Kuala Lumpur.
“Contrary to my first expedition in Thailand, I have not encountered any militant threat in Malaysia, but I had to put up with the extreme weather and having to look after myself in case of emergency,” he said.
Challenges along the way
He soon met other Malaysian cyclists. Astora told of his joy while riding across the states in Malaysia, saying he has been treated hospitably by locals and fans of his writings, especially in the rural areas.
“I wasn’t expecting such treatment from the locals here. They provided me a place to stay for the night and meals and I am blessed to be surrounded by generous people,” he said.
Apart from message of peace, Astora intends to spread the idea of healthy living.
A year for peace
Astora is continuing his expedition to the southern part of Malaysia, riding into Singapore and making his way back to Thailand through Malaysian states such as Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan.
He expects his ride to last a year as he travels through Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia, Brunei, Philippines and Timor Leste.
As Astora rides for peace, the Thai junta continues to try to persuade rebel groups and factions to resume formal peace talks for the first time since December 2013, when a civilian-led government was in office.
The government set a June 2016 deadline for the signing of a peace deal, but Lt. Gen. Nakrob Boonbuathong, a member of Thailand’s negotiating team, did not say what would happen if both sides failed to strike a deal. The region’s long-running conflict has seen more than 6,000 killed since 2004.


* Work from Home and START YOUR OWN blog site, business or personal website, or e-commerce store at www.mochahost.com



Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=93432.0