Asia, Africa and the Non-Aligned Movement<\/p>\n
Hafid Abbas, Jakarta<\/p>\n
With the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Asian-
\nAfrican Conference (AAC) on April 19 to April 24 in Jakarta and
\nBandung, it is relevant for us to look back at the ideas and
\nbackground of the AAC, which inspired the birth of the Non-
\nAligned Movement. What has been achieved since and how relevant
\nis the Spirit of Bandung in response to present and future
\nchallenges?<\/p>\n
Reflection on this could enlighten us on the way forward after
\nthe commemoration of the five-decade long Asian-African struggle.<\/p>\n
AAC was convened during the Cold War between the two
\nsuperpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union. Asian and
\nAfrican countries decided not to get caught in the polarization
\nbetween the two. They determined to create new forces, maintain
\ntheir non-alignment and independence. This determination was
\nclearly reflected in the final communique of the AAC, which was
\nknown as Dasasila Bandung or the Ten Principles of Bandung.<\/p>\n
The Spirit of Bandung was the pinnacle of the awakening of
\npolitical awareness among Asian and African leaders who
\nindomitably positioned themselves as a non-aligned force, or the
\nThird World, which took no sides with the First World,
\ncategorized as the capitalist world, or the Second World, known
\nas the forces of the socialist world.<\/p>\n
The Ten Principles include: respect for fundamental human
\nrights and for the purposes and the principles of the Charter of
\nthe United Nations; respect for the sovereignty and territorial
\nintegrity of all nations; recognition of the equality of all
\nraces and of the equality of all nations large and small; respect
\nfor the right of each nation to defend itself singly or
\ncollectively, in conformity with the Charter of the United
\nNations.<\/p>\n
Other principles include abstention from the use of
\narrangements of collective defense to serve the particular
\ninterests of any of the big powers, and abstention by any country
\nfrom exerting pressures on other countries; and refraining from
\nacts or threats of aggression or the use of force against the
\nterritorial integrity or political independence of any country.<\/p>\n
The Spirit of Bandung gave political and social reassurances
\nto Asian-African nations aspiring for independence. They stood
\nup and fought for freedom, free from colonialism. In Africa at
\nthat time, only five of today's 43 countries were independent,
\nSouth Africa (1910), Egypt (United Arab Republic, 1922), Liberia
\nand Ethiopia (1947) and Libya (1951).<\/p>\n
The others were colonies of either Britain, France, Belgium
\nor Germany. Six years after the convening of AAC the then new
\nindependent states along with other leaders of Asia and Africa
\nbuilt a united front to, once again, reaffirm their collective
\nopposition to the hegemony of injustices under the two
\nsuperpowers. This turned out to be the main reason for the birth
\nof the Non-Aligned Movement, proclaimed at the first summit of
\nthe Non-Aligned Movement in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, on Sept. 1 to
\nSept. 6 1961.<\/p>\n
The founders of the movement -- president Sukarno of
\nIndonesia, Gamal Abdul Nasser of Egypt, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana,
\nmarshal Tito of Yugoslavia and Jawaharhal Nehru of India --
\ndetermined to find the best solution to ending their dependency
\non the superpowers. They, in unison in the framework of the
\nmovement, in one voice, one spirit and one ideal, voiced their
\nnon-alignment and denounced all forms of colonialism in line with
\nthe Spirit of Bandung.<\/p>\n
However, in the course of its long and winding history over
\nfour decades, the movement was in a difficult situation, giving
\nan impression of sprawling its orientation, following the breakup
\nof the Soviet Union and its ramifications, leaving the United
\nStates the only superpower. The struggle of the movement as a
\nforce of developing countries was losing its momentum and focus,
\nand its vitality in the international arena was ebbing.<\/p>\n
To make things worse, summits, supposed to be convened every
\nthree years, could not take place in due time. In this kind of
\nsituation, the movement appeared to focus on uncontroversial
\nissues, namely poverty, population, the environment, smuggling,
\ndrugs, etc.<\/p>\n
This situation dramatically changed following the Sept. 11,
\n2001 terrorist attack. The movement again repositioned itself to
\nfind its place in the international arena, reactualization of its
\nspirit to promote justice in favor of weak nations. In the case
\nof Iraq, for instance, the movement discovered a new momentum.
\nThe movement is in the business of redefining its role in a
\nworld in which developing countries have to stand up for their
\nsovereign rights.<\/p>\n
President George W. Bush, when declaring war on terrorism,
\nstated to all nations: \"You're either with us or against us\",
\nwhich created polarization and fragmentation of political and
\neconomic forces on the basis of being an adversary or an ally.
\nThis black-and-white dichotomy, enemy or ally, represented a new
\npredicament on the political map of Asian and African countries.
\nCountries that lack bargaining power were easily subjugated and
\nfound it difficult to keep their independence and non-aligned
\nstance against the pressure and hegemonic political forces. Even
\nthe United Nations, which is supposed to stand for justice and
\nserve the interests of all nations, in many instances, was unable
\nto maintain its impartiality.<\/p>\n
The international political map has since changed
\ntremendously. There is no more disparity and no new emerging
\nforce capable of contesting the mighty United States. Some
\nobservers would like to see China someday become a new
\nsuperpower, one capable of challenging the United States. India
\nin collaboration with China could have the potential to challenge
\nthe United States, but not in the near future.<\/p>\n
The international political situation is a true challenge to
\nthe movement. During the Cold War, the movement was a vehicle for
\ndeveloping countries to promote their interests. The
\ncommemoration of the Asian-African Conference should be regarded
\nthe best momentum for the movement to reaffirm its commitment to
\npromote justice, peace and the eradication of all forms of
\ncolonialism on earth.<\/p>\n
The writer is director general for human rights protection,
\nDepartment of Justice and Human Rights, Republic of Indonesia.
\nHis personal views are expressed in this article. He can be
\nreached at hafidabbas@yahoo.com.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asia-africa-and-the-non-aligned-movement-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}