NAM must play more active role<\/p>\n
Indonesia is currently hosting the 40th anniversary
\ncommemoration of the Asia-Africa Conference as well as the Non-
\nAlignment Movement's ministerial meeting. Noted political
\nscientist Juwono Sudarsono takes a close look at these important
\nevents.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Delegates to the Ministerial Meeting of the Non-
\nAligned Movement's Coordinating Bureau assemble in Bandung this
\nweek to commemorate and reassert commitments proclaimed at the
\nAsia Africa Conference forty years ago. These goals, enshrined in
\nthe Ten Bandung Principles and subsequently reappraised,
\nrephrased and rehearsed in numerous meetings and conferences in
\nNon-Aligned countries and in United Nations sessions over the
\npast four decades, today carry an ominous ring : the developed
\ncountries of the North are too busy with their own troubles to
\ncare about the rest of the world.<\/p>\n
The Non-Aligned Movement also faces a United Nations long
\nafflicted by a crisis of legitimacy in the eyes of much of the
\ndeveloping world. The UN's numerous world summits (economic
\norder, information order, disarmament, human rights, environment,
\npopulation, women and human settlement) are often regarded as
\nperfunctory measures to contain the periodic anger and
\nfrustration in much of the developing world.<\/p>\n
Until the Tenth Summit in Jakarta in 1992, the Non-Aligned
\nMovement tended to indulge itself in prolonged rhetoric and
\nnegotiated compromises in formulating political and economic
\ndeclarations that may be the stuff of diplomacy but all too often
\nprovide little more than a cathartic moment for triumphant but
\nexhausted diplomats eager to retire to their hotel rooms.<\/p>\n
Because of the long-standing frustrations, the Jakarta summit
\nsought to reorient the strategy of fulfilling the ideals of
\nBandung 1955 and of Belgrade 1961. Non-Aligned member-states must
\ngo beyond commemorating ideals and principles. The international
\nsystem, however systematically unfair, can only be restructured
\nthrough patient and determined hard work on the part of the
\ndeveloping nations.<\/p>\n
Out of personal inclination and preferred strategy, President
\nSoeharto emphasized the importance of getting the priorities
\nright: political stability, economic growth and social equity. No
\ndeveloping nation can embark on the daunting task of moving
\nforward towards peace and prosperity without achieving these
\nthree basics. Cultural and authority templates of nation and
\nstate must at once be firm and yet flexible if societies wish to
\nsurvive the twists and turns of disruptive economic and social
\nchange. True non-alignment begins with strengthening state
\nidentity, alleviating absolute poverty and enhancing human
\nsecurity at home. These essentials speak louder than elegant
\ndiplomatic formulations.<\/p>\n
That strategy was reflected in the Jakarta Message, affirming
\nthe need for the South to embark on a vigilant but realistic
\n\"partnership and cooperation\" with the North, as well as
\nenhancing cooperation within the South where practicable.<\/p>\n
For the first time in the history of the Non-Aligned Movement,
\nthe chairman of the Movement underscored that it was imperative
\nthat the summit's commitments be followed through by four
\nfundamentals: population control, food security, debt management
\nand sustainable development. President Soeharto's appointment of
\na special executive assistant, seven senior economists and four
\nambassadors-at-large underscores his seriousness in providing
\nsubstance to the Jakarta Message. The concept of a tripartite
\narrangement, whereby a G-7 country assists severely indebted low
\nincome countries through the participation of several of the more
\nfortunate developing nations, was introduced in the meeting
\nbetween G-7 leaders and President Soeharto in Tokyo in 1993.<\/p>\n
Forty years ago, first generation leaders of Africa and Asia
\nappealed for emancipation and humanitarian concern. In the
\npresent post-Cold War era, these ideals retain relevance and gain
\nadded urgency for much of Africa, Asia, Latin America and
\nsouthern Europe. But even as sustained collective efforts are
\nimportant, each developing nation must, above all, start by
\nhelping itself.<\/p>\n
Now and in the future, second and third generation leaders of
\nNon-Aligned countries must simultaneously come to grips with
\npolitical order, economic growth, social equity, population
\ncontrol, food security, debt management and sustainable
\ndevelopment . The collective performances in resolving these
\nissues will be even more compelling for the credibility of each
\nmember-state and of the Non-Aligned Movement as a whole.<\/p>\n
Sound statecraft consists of the combined applications of
\nword-craft, trade-craft and military-craft. Beyond the solemn
\ncommemorations and discussions of the future strategies of the
\nNon-Aligned Movement which emanates from Bandung 1995, the simple
\nbut blunt message that present leaders in Non-Aligned countries
\nmust take into full account must surely be: Reduce the wordcraft,
\ncontrol the military-craft, enhance the trade-craft.<\/p>\n
Dr. Juwono Sudarsono is Vice Governor of Lemhanas, the
\nIndonesian Defense College, Jakarta.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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