A memorable walk, far from history

A memorable walk, far from history

Meidyatama Suryodinigrat
The Jakarta Post/Bandung

They came from different countries and spoke different languages.
Many were distinctive in their couture. In any other forum they
could have been at odds with each other, in defense of
contradicting political ideologies.

But, for a brief few minutes at least, the most prominent
leaders of Asia and Africa showed that geography and skin color
could not prevent them from walking in harmony. If it were not
for all the fanfare and zealous security, they could have been
just regular folk walking down Bandung's most famous street.

Sunday's 50-meter walk to the Merdeka Building was arguably
the apex of the meetings and summits of Asian and African leaders
that have taken place over the past week.

It was a sight that may not be repeated in our lifetime.

Most wore strained smiles, while some chatted as they rubbed
shoulders. An occasional wave was made as cheeky journalists
shouted out a leader's name.

Shouts of "Koizumi! Koizumi!" were greeted with a surprised
turn of the head and raised hand by the Japanese prime minister.

But what should have been a solemn walk to retrace the steps
of their forefathers in 1955 seemed more like a hurried trot.
Despite the pomp, the historical walk of 2005 felt unceremonious,
ending all too quickly without fully absorbing the atmosphere.
The actual event simply did not measure up to the hype.

The various cultural performances strategically placed along
the way hardly got a glance, despite their best efforts to
impress the procession of world leaders headed by Indonesian
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

For many of these leaders, the walk was quite possibly
something they had not experienced since their youth. Where else
would state leaders be forced to walk 50-meters in the hot sun
without someone holding an umbrella over them?

One person who did not seem to mind the sun was Afghanistan's
Hamid Karzai who was not wearing his trademark astrakhan hat to
cover his bare bald head.

The enthusiastic lines of well-wishers that greeted delegates
in 1955 were replaced by regiments of bureaucrats, journalists
and security personnel.

The ordinary people of Bandung were kept at bay some 100
meters distant.

The first minutes after the leaders entered the Merdeka
Building were a little confusing.

A smaller group of leaders that included South African
President Thabo Mbeki and United Nations Secretary General Kofi
Annan had become separated from the main cluster and still making
their walk to the building as other leaders were already taking
their places for the group photo.

Immediately after the photo session the conference hall became
chaotic as liaison officers waving little national flags of the
leader's they had been assigned to attempted to usher them into
their designated seats.

With the seating chaos was sorted out one liaison officer
slumped exhausted in the corner. "Its just as difficult trying to
sort out the seating arrangements for state leaders as it is for
little children," she remarked.