Activists to mark conference date

Activists to mark conference date

BANDUNG, West Java: The Bandung Spirit, a newly established
organization of activists and intellectuals, plans to commemorate
the landmark 1955 Asia-Africa conference later this month.

Group spokesman Saini K.M. said on Wednesday that a two-day
commemorative seminar will be held from April 21 aimed at
increasing the spirit of self-reliance and strengthening
cooperation among developing countries.

The 1955 conference was a precursor to the Non-Aligned
Movement, which was established five years later to offer an
alternative forum to newly independent countries which did not
want to take sides in the Cold War.

The Bandung Spirit, so named after the document declaring the
principles of the movement, includes musician Acil Bimbo,
communication expert Deddy Jamaludin Malik and former West Java
military commander Herman Ibrahim among its members.

Coordinator of the commemoration Acil said former foreign
minister Ali Alatas and foreign ambassadors in Jakarta were among
those invited to address the seminar. President Abdurrahman Wahid
is also expected to attend, he added. (25)