A short walk, a far cry from history<\/p>\n
Meidyatama Suryodinigrat, The Jakarta Post, Bandung<\/p>\n
They came from different countries and spoke different languages.
\nMany were distinctive in their couture. In any other forum they
\ncould have been at odds with each other, in defense of
\ncontradicting political ideologies.<\/p>\n
But, for a brief few minutes at least, the most prominent
\nleaders of Asia and Africa showed that geography and skin color
\ncould not prevent them from walking in harmony. If it were not
\nfor all the fanfare and zealous security, they could have been
\njust regular folk walking down Bandung's most famous street.<\/p>\n
Sunday's 50-meter walk to the Merdeka Building was arguably
\nthe apex of the meetings and summits of Asian and African leaders
\nthat have taken place over the past week.<\/p>\n
It was a sight that may not be repeated in our lifetime.<\/p>\n
Most wore strained smiles, while some chatted as they rubbed
\nshoulders. An occasional wave was made as cheeky journalists
\nshouted out a leader's name.<\/p>\n
Shouts of \"Koizumi! Koizumi!\" were greeted with a surprised
\nturn of the head and raised hand by the Japanese prime minister.<\/p>\n
But what should have been a solemn walk to retrace the steps
\nof their forefathers in 1955 seemed more like a hurried trot.
\nDespite the pomp, the historical walk of 2005 felt unceremonious,
\nending all too quickly without fully absorbing the atmosphere.
\nThe actual event simply did not measure up to the hype.<\/p>\n
The various cultural performances strategically placed along
\nthe way hardly got a glance, despite their best efforts to
\nimpress the procession of world leaders headed by Indonesian
\nPresident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.<\/p>\n
Maybe it was because the procession was led by a former
\ngeneral, who set a cracking pace for the four-minute walk, or
\nmaybe it was the desire to get out of the hot sun. It was
\ncertainly not the leisurely stride required for a contemplation
\nof history.<\/p>\n
For many of these leaders, the walk was quite possibly
\nsomething they had not experienced since their youth. Where else
\nwould state leaders be forced to walk 50-meters in the hot sun
\nwithout someone holding an umbrella over them?<\/p>\n
One person who did not seem to mind the sun was Afghanistan's
\nHamid Karzai who was not wearing his trademark astrakhan hat to
\ncover his bare bald head.<\/p>\n
Unlike the documentary film of international delegates
\narriving at the 1955 conference in an atmosphere of enthusiasm,
\nSunday's commemorative walk was devoid of mystique and innocence.
\nThis was a staged event, deemed 'historic' by virtue of a state
\ndecree.<\/p>\n
The enthusiastic lines of well-wishers that greeted delegates
\nin 1955 were replaced by regiments of bureaucrats, journalists
\nand security personnel.<\/p>\n
The ordinary people of Bandung were kept at bay some 100
\nmeters distant.<\/p>",
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