Eko Suwanto Reminds of the Spirit of the KAA: The Struggle for Freedom from Oppression
Chairman of the PDI Perjuangan Jogja branch, Eko Suwanto, has affirmed that the spirit of the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference (KAA) remains relevant amid current global dynamics. The values of the struggle against colonialism and the pursuit of national sovereignty are deemed necessary to be continually actualised.
This was conveyed by Eko after virtually attending a speech by the General Chairman of the PDI Perjuangan Central Executive Board, Megawati Soekarnoputri, at a seminar titled ‘71 Years of the KAA Commemoration: The Relevance of the Asia-Africa Movement in the Current Geopolitical Crisis’ at the PDIP Party School in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta, on Saturday (18/4/2026).
According to Eko, as a free nation, Indonesia bears a moral responsibility to continue promoting the spirit of anti-colonialism and rejecting all forms of modern-era colonisation.
“In 2025, I had the opportunity to visit the Asia-Africa Conference Museum in Bandung. I felt the inner atmosphere of the fighting spirit of Asian and African nations to be free from oppression,” said Eko in a written statement received by detikJogja on Sunday (19/4/2026).
He assessed that the current world situation, still coloured by conflicts and wars, shows that the spirit of the KAA has not lost its relevance. Moreover, Indonesia has a historical role as one of the initiators of solidarity among developing countries through that forum.
“Indonesia, with its historical role as the initiator of the non-aligned movement, the spirit of Bung Karno’s thoughts is important to be continually actualised. We support efforts to ignite the spirit of struggle for complete national independence,” he stated.
Meanwhile, in her speech, Megawati also emphasised the importance of reviving the spirit of the KAA through the idea of implementing KAA Volume II. She stated that threats of neocolonialism and imperialism are still real, thus requiring a joint response from countries in Asia and Africa.
Megawati referenced Soekarno’s speech titled To Build The World A New, which emphasised the importance of equality among nations. She also linked that spirit to the Non-Aligned Movement that emerged from the dynamics of the Cold War as an alternative outside the domination of the world’s major blocs.
As a note, the KAA held from 18-24 April 1955 in Bandung became a milestone in the solidarity of Asian-African countries. This forum aimed to strengthen economic and cultural cooperation, while opposing colonialism and neocolonialism in various forms.
Eko also called on all elements of the nation to continue preserving and enlivening those values of struggle.
“Let us join hands together to fight colonialism and the subjugation of other nations,” he concluded.