Anecdotes of AA conference<\/p>\n
When I saw my picture printed in The Jakarta Post, Sunday
\nApril 23, 1993, page three, standing behind President Sukarno,
\nwho was making his opening speech at the first Asia-Africa
\nConference, I was very happy.<\/p>\n
This picture revived many memories from the time when I was
\nacting as adjutant (ADC) to President Sukarno, for the duration
\nof the Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung. I was at that time
\nlecturer of military history at the Army Staff and Command School
\nin Bandung, with the rank of Major.<\/p>\n
In the context of the commemoration of the first Asia-Africa
\nConference in 1995, I would like to share with the readers some
\nlight anecdotes, which are far from being serious.<\/p>\n
When I was not needed by Bung Karno I stayed close to Bung
\nHatta, the Vice President. One day an official of the Secretariat
\nGeneral reported to Bung Hatta, that there was little problem
\nwhich could become serious. The Indian delegation complained that
\nthe Police ADC attached to their Chief Delegate was of a lower
\nrank than the Police ADC attached to the Pakistan's Chief
\nDelegate. The man reported that the problem was almost solved,
\nbecause the organizing committee managed to find another police
\nofficer of the same rank, to replace the other one. As the
\nproblem was solved the Indians were happy.<\/p>\n
Another time a member of the Presidential staff approached
\nBung Hatta to ask his good advice, because First Lady Ibu
\nFatmawati refused to attend the official welcoming reception,
\nhosted by President Sukarno, because the Chief Delegate of a
\ncertain country was accompanied by his second wife. Bung Karno
\ntried in vain to persuade Ibu Fatmawati to attend this important
\nfunction.<\/p>\n
I accompanied Bung Hatta to the Governor's palace, where the
\nPresident and the First Lady stayed. Bung Hatta entered Ibu
\nFatmawati's room. After about half an hour he emerged, with a
\nhappy face and said to me that Ibu Fatmawati would be on the
\nreceiving line standing next to Bung Karno. Another delicate
\nproblem was solved.<\/p>\n
As an ADC, I had more or less freedom to attend all open
\nmeetings. Prime Minister Chou En Lai was speaking in Chinese and
\nthe speech was interpreted into English. Apparently the
\ninterpreter was not very good, so it seemed, because suddenly
\nChou stopped his interpreter and started talking in fluent
\nFrench. He forgot his protocol to speak in Chinese. What a
\nsituation!<\/p>\n
On Friday all the Islamic delegates went for the Friday
\nprayers at the Bandung mosque. I went in one car with President
\nSukarno and I considered myself a very lucky man, because I got a
\nplace directly behind President Nasser, a very handsome man.
\nBeing tall, handsome, always wearing his uniform, Nasser did not
\nlack ladies' attention during receptions.<\/p>\n
When prayers were finished Bung Karno, with President Nasser,
\nwas swarmed by Indonesians, who wanted to shake or kissed his
\nhands. Bung Karno was not at all disturbed and kept his
\ncomposure, smiling all the time, while shaking hands with
\neverybody.<\/p>\n
Slowly we moved to our waiting car. When the car started
\nmoving I discovered that I'd forgotten my shoes. I could not go
\nback to get my shoes and I told the President what happened. He
\nlaughed, as I had never seen him laugh before. I was happy
\nbecause my President was happy, even though I lost my pair of new
\nshoes.<\/p>\n
SOEGIH ARTO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/anecdotes-of-aa-conference-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }