[HWPL]

[HWPL] The Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council (EIASC) and Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle (GGSSC), a Sikh organization in India, Sign Memorandum of Understanding with HWPL

Signed Memorandum of Understanding between HWPL and The Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council (EIASC)

Signed Memorandum of Understanding between HWPL and Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle (GGSSC), a Sikh organization in India

It has been the long-standing pursuit of mankind to find a way to bring bloody conflicts triggered by religious ideologies to an end and to unite religions. Interreligious peace is an essential condition for ceasing wars and bringing peace to the world. The solution to this proposed by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL, Chairman Man-hee Lee) is the ‘World Alliance of Religions' Peace (WARP) Office'. Religious leaders worldwide who participate in the scripture dialogues can testify to the astounding progress of peace being made between religions at the WARP Office. The WARP Office, which was initiated in 2014, has been welcomed by religious leaders and followers, and some organizations have proposed the signing of an MOU with HWPL.

The Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council (EIASC, President Haji Omar Idris) signs an MOU with HWPL for the smooth running of the World Alliance of Religions' Peace (WARP) Office at EIASC building in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on April 29, 2019

The Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council (EIASC, President Haji Omar Idris) garnered support for the ceremonial event through Islamic circles. On April 29th, 2019, at the headquarters of EIASC in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, HWPL and EIASC signed an MOU for the smooth running of the WARP Office.

The Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council (EIASC) is an organization that aims to promote the prosperity, practical and sound integration of Muslims in Ethiopia, to construct a peaceful and sustainable community, and to participate in the growth and change of the country. The EIASC has 11 Regional Islamic Affairs Higher Councils under its umbrella, and it cooperates with Ethiopia's Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant groups, as well as with local groups. As the official supreme Islamic institution under the jurisdiction of the Ethiopian government, it is responsible for hosting Islamic academic, cultural and environmental projects and events nationwide.

The MOU was conducted by the former chairman Muhammad-Amin Jamal and HWPL Chairman Manhee Lee. Former chairman Jamal was particularly moved by Chairman Lee's actions during his 29th peace tour to Ethiopia in August 2018. He was also drawn to the WARP Office that had been in operation for over 5 years and made the decision to participate in it, alongside members. Since the signing of the MOU, EIASC has been an active participant in the HWPL WARP Office.

The MOU was written for the purpose of conducting regular peace activities for religious leaders and people of faith in Ethiopia, and to establish a framework of values and collaborative steps between HWPL and EIASC.

A commemorative photo of participants following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding at the 2018 Addis Ababa Summit held at the African Union (AU) Headquarters in Ethiopia on August 16, 2018. HWPL's peace movement in Africa has received great acclaim among the people

HWPL promised to raise awareness of the need for peace and to promote interreligious peace in Ethiopia. To this end, HWPL agreed to provide details of the outcomes of its interreligious scripture dialogues and peace activities. Moreover, HWPL promised to support the activities of volunteer members of the EIASC and to actively publicize the religious Peacebuilding Network for the promotion of peace activities.

In response, the EIASC pledged to do its utmost in spreading a culture of peace through consistent religious peace activities, and promised to provide infrastructure and resources for the operation of religious peace programs in banquet halls, religious peace camps and more. Furthermore, it made the decision that it would regularly invite Muslim speakers to participate in the WARP Office for interreligious harmony. EIASC also promised to actively support HWPL's publicity campaign for religious peace, and to hold events in support of the DPCW for enactment as international law, such as at the annual commemorations of the 'March 14 Proclamation of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War' (DPCW), 'May 25 Declaration of World Peace', and 'September 18 World Alliance of Religions' Peace (WARP) Summit'.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is signed between Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle (GGSSC), an Indian Sikh organization, and HWPL at The-K Hotel Seoul on September 19, 2019, during the 5th Annual Commemoration of the WARP (World Alliance of Religions' Peace) Summit

In India, a Sikh organization signed an MOU with HWPL and promised not only to participate in interreligious peace, but in all peace activities globally. 

On September 19, 2019, an MOU was signed between the Indian Sikh organization Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle (GGSSC, Director Jatin Dupal Singh) and HWPL at The-K Hotel Seoul on September 19, 2019, during the 5th Annual Commemoration of the WARP (World Alliance of Religions' Peace) Summit, where they also presented the Indian Golden Temple souvenir to Chairman Lee.

GGSSC is a social, religious, academic and cultural institution, which cultivates a culture of 'Sarbat da bhala (welfare of all)' as recorded in the Sikh scriptures by educating volunteers and carrying out a global social movement. Founded in 1972 in Ludhiana, Punjab, India, it consists of 5 councils and 34 zones, and is active in 11 countries, including Canada. The organisation collaborates with five universities and Sikh organisations in India, including Punjab and Adesh. GGSSC was recognised by UNESCO as a 'Messenger of Peace' from 2000 to 2010 because of its ceaseless charitable efforts.

Peace!

 [HWPL]

[HWPL] An Appreciation Plaque from an Islamic group in Brazil to HWPL: "I was moved by the peace movement of Chairman Man-hee Lee”

An appreciation plaque produced by the National Association of Islamic Entities (União Nacional Das Entidades Islâmicas - UNI) that was personally awarded to HWPL by the director of Religious Affairs Sheikh Mohamad Al Bukai, in recognition of HWPL's peace achievements and for hosting the 4th Annual Commemoration of the WARP Summit on September 18, 2018

Those who seek interreligious peace agree that religions must unite. Most countries that tolerate religious freedom are multi-religious, and ruling governments desire that these religions contribute to maintaining national peace. Islam is a minority religion in Brazil. As such, its adherents struggle to correct misinformation when it appears. They also pray for religion to achieve peace, justice, and freedom globally.

A commemorative photo is taken of guests at the religious Intercontinental WARP Office Meeting during the 4th Annual Commemoration of the WARP Summit at Ramada Incheon Hotel on September 19, 2018

Director of Religious Affairs of the National Association of Islamic Entities in Brazil Sheikh Mohamad Al Bukai expressed his longing for peace by engaging in various NGO activity. In 2018, he met the peace delegation of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (Chairman Man-hee Lee) and aligned himself with HWPL's vision. He heard about the prodigious peace achievements of Man-hee Lee, the messenger of peace who embarked on 25 world peace tours from the age of eighty - and is now in his nineties - for the purpose of ceasing global conflict and achieving world peace.

Chairman Lee met with former and incumbent presidents to urge them to collaborate for peace, secured peace agreements with influential political, social and religious figures, had religious leaders pledge to unite religions, and met with women and youth representatives to bring peace to nation states worldwide. He urged them to support the DPCW for the cause of peace, and signed peace MOUs and MOAs with schools and academic circles in each country. The media reported extensively on Chairman Lee's accomplishments in this field. Director of Religious Affairs Sheikh Mohamad Al Bukai, who was approaching the age of 40 at that time, felt convicted after hearing about Chairman Lee's movements.

HWPL Chairman Man-hee Lee delivers a speech at the 4th Annual Commemoration of the WARP Summit on September 18, 2018

Sheikh Mohamad Al Bukai is from Syria and has a particular interest in human rights and in peace, refugee, and environmental movements. He was instrumental in his work with the NGO Oasis Solidario in São Paulo, Brazil which acts in the reception and integration of refugees from Syria, Bangladesh, Pakistan and other parts of the African continent who are provided housing, food and Portuguese interpreters.

Since joining HWPL Chairman Lee's peace movement, Sheikh Mohamad Al Bukai has acted as the main representative (Speaker) of Islam at the monthly religious WARP  (World Alliance of Religions' Peace) Office dialogues in Iguazú, Brazil since February 2018. He also attended the WARP Summit in Seoul in September that year, where he presented Chairman Lee with an appreciation plaque, on behalf of the UNI, in recognition of HWPL's peace activities, saying, “I want to applaud Chairman Lee for his great achievements in a short period of time for peace activities and I want to be of help." Explaining the motivation behind delivering this plaque to HWPL officials, he said, "UNI is presenting this appreciation plaque to the chairman, who has devoted himself for peace, with gratitude and a sincere wish for world peace."

HWPL members display a card section performance at the 4th Annual Commemoration of the WARP Summit in the heart of Incheon Asiad Main Stadium on September 18, 2018

Director of Religious Affairs Sheikh Mohamad Al Bukai was particularly passionate about the enactment of international law in the form of the Declaration of World Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW, 10 Articles 38 Clauses). The following year, on September 14, 2019, he organized and held a campaign in support of the DPCW at a mosque he leads as an Imam. At the event, with the participation of 250 guests, Imam Mohamad Al Bukai said, "I sympathize with what Chairman Lee has done."

His support for HWPL and participation in HWPL's peace movement continued on despite the onset of the global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus infection (Covid-19) in 2020. In October 2020, he attended an online WARP Office prayer meeting and later sent a congratulatory video for a webinar ('Voice of Peace in the Global Pandemic') to be held by the same HWPL branch later that month.

Director of Religious Affairs Sheikh Mohamad Al Bukai of the National Association of Islamic Entities (UNI - center), listens to a congratulatory speech at the 4th Annual Commemoration of the WARP Summit on September 18, 2018, at Incheon Asiad Main Stadium.

Conversely, the majority faith in Brazil is Christianity, with Roman Catholicism and Protestantism accounting for 74% and 15%, respectively. This is largely due to the spread of Catholicism by the Portuguese colonialists, who asserted Catholicism as a means of colonial rule among the indigenous peoples in the 16th century. Since then, as Protestantism has spread, conflicts have arisen between the Old and Modern churches. Catholic worship in Brazil has been transformed into one closely tied to indigenous peoples' beliefs, and there have been movements within the Catholic Church to reverse this. In Brazil, where the majority adheres to the Christian faith, the Islamic and Buddhist faiths, and the beliefs of the indigenous peoples are classified as minority groups.

In this climate, the National Association of Islamic Entities (UNI) has been working to promote Islam and to eliminate prejudice rooted in public opinion by biased and unfounded domestic and global news. It carries out social initiatives for refugees and youth, and plays a role in publishing written and online content and supporting the Brazilian media. It is headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, and has 17 offices across the country.

Director of Religious Affairs Sheikh Mohamad Al Bukai of the National Association of Islamic Entities (UNI) is gifted 'The True Story of HWPL' book, which details HWPL's peace work, by an HWPL official on September 18, 2018

Peace!

[HWPL] Mindanao Civil Peace Agreement - True Story of HWPL's Chairman Man Hee Lee

 [HWPL]

[HWPL] Mindanao Peace Agreement - True Story of HWPL's Chairman Man Hee Lee

2nd annual commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace on May 25th 2015.

[Cheonji Daily = Reporter Tae-Bok Song] "If peace comes to Mindanao, world peace will come too."

These were the words spoken by people around the world watching the land of death, where more than 120,000 people died in a bloody 40-year conflict. Everyone considered peace in Mindanao an impossibility.

Peace agreements between the government and rebels had been signed several times, but they failed and people aimed their guns at each other again. As such, over 40 years passed, the “gun” was regarded as a means of peace to the residents.

However, a surprising thing happened to local residents, who had been aiming their guns at one another since 2014:  a life of conflict changed into one of peace. At the root of this miracle is the Korean peace activist Man-hee Lee, who is the chairman of HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light).

Chairman Man-hee Lee has been on world peace tours since 2012 after receiving the command to "Cease Wars and Achieve World Peace!" Catholic Archbishop Antonio Ledesma Cagayan de Oro, whom he met in the Philippines in September 2013, asked Chairman Lee to end the conflict in Mindanao. At that time, Mindanao was a battleground with ongoing bloody disputes and going to Mindanao would be life-threatening.

In January of the following year, at the age of 84, Chairman Lee visited the bloody battlefield, where bullets poured down, with the sole mission of securing 'peace'. Chairman Lee said, “As a fellow peace compatriot, I couldn't refuse his plea to go there for peace. I believed that God would be with me and so I headed to Mindanao.”

After visiting Mindanao, the process involved a series of miracles that were hard to believe in with human logic. Chairman Lee, who recognized that the root of the Mindanao conflict was a Catholic-Islamic dispute, held a peace walk with 1,000 people - including students from Mindanao State University and members of international youth organisations - for the first time in General Santos city, Philippines on January 24, 2014.

Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL and representatives of the Catholic and Islamic faiths on January 24th in 2014, right after signing the civil peace agreement.

After the peace walk, Chairman Lee emphasized the need for peace to the leaders of government and civil society organizations, youth organizations, and university professors gathered at General Santos Hotel.

Chairman Lee strongly criticized acts that promote conflict under the guise of religion, and stressed that "the will of the Creator is for peace, not war." He then asked the attendees whether they desired peace or war and to raise their hands if they wanted peace. When all the participants raised their hands, Chairman Man Hee Lee summoned Catholic and Islamic representatives who attended the event, saying, "Then sign the peace agreement."

The immediate peace agreement was attended by former Archbishop Fernando Capella and the Governor of Mindanao Magindanao. Both sides signed an agreement to cease conflict and achieve peace.

This was the prelude to the end of this bloody conflict in Mindanao, which neither the president of the Philippines, nor the law, nor the Pope could resolve. The site of the peace agreement was reported through the Philippine national broadcaster PTV and private broadcasters. After hearing the news of the peace agreement, former Philippine president Ramos met Chairman Lee and said, "He did something I couldn't do".

Upon hearing news of the Mindanao Civil Peace Agreement, the government forces and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) agreed on the final draft of the Preliminary Peace Agreement on January 25, the very next day. The agreement was evaluated as the greatest progress made in the negotiation process between the two sides over the last 18 years, as it recognized Muslim autonomy in the Bangsamoro region in southern Mindanao and gradually disarmed the MILF.

In May of that year, the so-called Bangsamoro Basic Law entered legislative proceedings in the Philippines Parliament, and in August 2018, President Duterte signed the bill, bringing the civil war in Mindanao to a complete end. The Mindanao Civil Peace Agreement, which was implemented through the mediation of Chairman Man Hee Lee, was made reality.

In January 2014, Philippine PTV reporter Elizabeth Kachin, who delivered the news of the Mindanao Civil Peace Agreement, which was negotiated through the mediation of Chairman Man-Hee Lee, highlighted Chairman Lee's ‘sincerity for peace’ as the driver behind these dramatic achievements of peace.

Reporter Kachin said, “Chairman Man-Hee Lee was different from other politicians. Chairman Lee said, 'I came a long way to Mindanao, where bullets poured down, for peace only.' The residents of Mindanao, tired of the dispute, quickly recognized the difference between a politician and Chairman Lee. Lee's sincerity for “peace” moved them, a peace agreement could be done because of Chairman Man-Hee Lee and HWPL.”

The Philippine media reported, “There have been numerous peace treaties that agreed to end the war, but there have always been other disputes. Many peace activists worked to solve this but it was the HWPL who headquartered in Korea that produced real fruit.”

The difference is that the government-led political peace agreement came to nothing due to the residents' opposition, while the civil peace agreement led by Chairman Man-Hee Lee successfully concluded with the support of residents and with minimal resistance. After the agreement, locals began to experience the miracle of walking together speaking of peace.

Al Haz Murad Ibrahim, Chairman of the MILF, who attended the 1st anniversary of the World Peace Summit by HWPL in September 2015, said, “I heard the news of the peace agreement between Islamic-Catholic leaders that Chairman Man-Hee Lee made through Governor of Mindanao Magindanao. We had been negotiating with the government for 18 years, but we were unable to reach a conclusion. In January 2014, the civil peace agreement between Islamic-Catholic leaders in Mindanao Magindanao by Chairman Man-Hee Lee in January 2014 actually helped the MILF and the Philippines government to achieve an official agreement. Many people don't believe this, but it's true."

S

Soldiers and citizens of the MILF welcome Chairman Man Hee Lee who visited the MILF's region on January 24th in 2016.

In May 2015, the state of Mindanao Magindanao built the “HWPL Peace Monument” to commemorate Chairman Lee’s achievements for peace. At the site, a large number of key figures and local representatives who attended the peace talks representing the government and rebels for peace, pledged to make efforts to maintain and develop peace in Mindanao. In addition, January 24th was designated as "HWPL Day" as it is the day when the Mindanao Civil Peace Agreement concluded, and an event was held to commemorate the “day of liberation from war by peace". On that day, Catholic and Islamic leaders promised, "we will never have religious disputes in front of God and all the people of the world again" and "we will be messengers of peace with HWPL."

In January 2016, on the 2nd anniversary of the Mindanao Civil Peace Agreement, the “HWPL Peace Monument” was also erected in Mindanao Sultan Kudarat, where the MILF is stationed, to publicly  formalize the achievement of peace in Mindanao by HWPL. Chairman Man Hee Lee, who visited the MILF region to attend the unveiling ceremony of the Peace Monument, was enthusiastically welcomed by the MILF's residents. The long lines of welcoming crowds showed how much Mindanao residents looked forward to “peace”.

On the morning of Sunday, October 7th in 2018, SBS’ (one of the major broadcasting companies in Korea) documentary team reported from Mindanao, which had become a place of peace following the signing of the peace agreement through Chairman Man-Hee Lee in 2014, through its documentary ‘Peace is far off, but a path that must be taken’ Locals who thought, 'we thought guns would bring peace', were enjoying a peaceful daily life without guns. They had recovered from the severe pain of suddenly losing their loved ones.

In January 2014, 84-year-old Korean peace activist Chairman Man-Hee Lee visited Mindanao risking his life only for “peace,” and God gifted them with "peace". This may have been because God, who has the power to achieve peace, was with Chairman Lee.

On January 24th 2016, the 'Unveiling ceremony of HWPL Peace Monument' was held at the MILF's post in Sultan Kudarat of Mindanao in the Philippines to celebrate 'the 2nd anniversary of the Mindanao Civil Peace Agreement'.

Peace!

[HWPL] The 6th HWPL Intercontinental Online WARP Office Meeting - About the Beginning of Man

[HWPL]

[HWPL] The 6th HWPL Intercontinental Online WARP Office Meeting - About the Beginning of Man

Original Video YouTube Video Link

Session 1 - http://bit.ly/oWARP6-1

Session 2 - http://bit.ly/oWARP6-2

Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light) has been carrying out global initiatives for world peace such as the Legislate Peace campaign, May 25th Peace Walk and Peace Letter campaign, with the Declaration of Peace Cessation of War (DPCW), Peace Education and the Alliance of Religions as the basis.

HWPL's Intercontinental Online (and Offline) WARP Office meeting is a part of the Alliance of Religions. According to statistics, 80% of wars are caused by religious conflict. Mr. Man Hee Lee's idea is that all religions talk and discuss about each other's doctrines and beliefs, so that they can understand each other, resolve and prevent conflict. The ultimate goal is to help religious leaders find the best truth among all religions and scriptures so they can be one in religion and belief, which would mean the end of all religiously-motivated conflicts and wars.

HWPL's WARP (World Alliance of Religions' and Peace) Office meeting provides the perfect platform to achieve Chairman Man Hee Lee's objective, which has been hosted globally since 2014 and has assisted religious leaders and believers to talk and discuss to find the truth and to understand each other for world peace.

Now in 2019, there are 250 WARP Office branches in 128 countries with countless WARP Office meetings hosted. In the case of the Intercontinental Online WARP Meeting, this is the 6th one.

The topic of the 6th Intercontinental Online WARP Office Meeting was 'About the Beginning of Man' which was hosted on May 15th with panels from the Christian, Muslim, Zoroastrian, Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist faiths. It incorporated two sessions with one same question and two different questions posed for the panels.

Session 1 - Sikh, Zoroastrian, Christian and Muslim faiths

Questions for Session 1
1. Does your scripture have a record of the beginning of man? (When was he/she created and what's one's name?)

2. How does your scripture describe his/her appearance? (According to some scriptures, mankind is created according to the image of God)

3. Who was created first? Man or Woman?

Session 2 - Zoroastrian, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist and Hindu faiths

Questions for Session 2
1. Does your scripture have a record of the beginnings of man? (When was he/she created and what's one's name?)

2. Is it written in your scripture about what God asked man after creating him/her?

3. Does your scripture have a record of a family tree and genealogy?

Religious leaders discussed and answered questions passionately and curiously towards other religions. It was also very interesting that they received questions from online participants in an interactive chatroom.

It was interesting to listen and learn about each religion and the similarities between doctrines about the creation and the beginnings of mankind. Some religions have their own unique doctrine about the origins of mankind and the world, which fascinated the participants.

If you missed the meeting, don't worry :) There is still a chance on YouTube (Above links). It doesn't matter if you have a religion or not. If you want to stop world conflicts and wars, and achieve world peace then this is the video you'll want to watch :)

Peace!

Want to be informed and involved? Click Below!

HWPL official homepage : www.hwpl.kr

IWPG official homepage : http://www.iwpg.org/en/

IPYG official homepage : www.ipyg.kr

DPCW information : http://www.hwpl.kr/en/initiative/lawForPeace