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.