Redressing imbalances<\/p>\n
There can be no denying that the first ever Asia-Africa
\nConference, which was held in 1955 in the West Java city of
\nBandung, pushed colonialism into a corner and inspired many more
\ncountries to strive for independence.<\/p>\n
It is worth noting that at the time the conference opened
\nthere were only four independent countries in Africa -- Egypt,
\nLibya, Ethiopia and Sudan. The Bandung Conference had the effect
\nof a rolling snowball. After the Bandung example, new independent
\ncountries emerged not only in Africa and Asia, but throughout
\nwhat is now known as the Third World.<\/p>\n
The Bandung spirit further led Asian and African countries
\ntowards the creation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) six years
\nlater. As most observers will admit, the NAM did much to prevent
\nthe Cold War from deteriorating into a conflagration. Although
\nthe NAM membership embraced only developing countries, its voice
\nwas heard by the superpowers because it represented the majority
\nof the world's population.<\/p>\n
The Bandung spirit also made many countries realize that by
\njoining military pacts with either the countries of the West or
\nthose of the Socialist bloc they would only cause themselves to
\nbe used as pawns in the global political forum.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately it must be noted that in spite of those
\nachievements the condition of many of the world's developing
\ncountries have remained deplorable. In a number of cases the
\nsituation is even worse than before independence was attained.
\nSome of those countries have become enmeshed in poverty. Others
\nare strangled by foreign debts or are involved in wars with
\nneighboring countries. Worse still, some of them have become
\nembroiled in civil strife within their own borders which have
\ntaken the lives of thousands of people.<\/p>\n
It is for this reason that we believe the words of advice
\nspoken by President Soeharto during the commemoration of the 40th
\nanniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung on Monday
\ndeserve the attention of leaders in the developing world.
\nExpressing regret over the fact that so many of the concerns
\naddressed by the 1955 Conference have remained unresolved,
\nPresident Soeharto reminded the leaders that great numbers of
\npeople are being killed or maimed because disputes are not being
\nsettled through negotiation or other peaceful means.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the current international situation in the wake
\nof the Cold War still deserves attention. In President Soeharto's
\nwords: \"Teeming millions in the developing world still languish
\nin the grip of poverty, ignorance and backwardness because of the
\ninequities and imbalances in international economic
\nrelationships,\" Soeharto said. Therefore, he advised, \"our
\nmovement must continue evolving and growing in enlightenment, but
\nalways within the framework of the principles and ideals that the
\nAsia-Africa Conference spelled out for all time 40 years ago.\"<\/p>\n
In other words, solidarity and cooperation remain badly needed
\nin this shrinking world in order to improve social and economic
\nconditions in many of Asia's and Africa's relatively newly
\nindependent countries. The global imbalances must be redressed in
\norder that the last say in world political and economic affairs
\ndoes not always belong to the industrial countries of the world.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/redressing-imbalances-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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