Some facts about the 1955 meeting
Some facts about the 1955 meeting
JAKARTA (JP): "We, the peoples of Asia and Africa, 1.4 billion
strong, far more than half the human population of the world, we
can mobilize what I have called the moral violence of nations in
favor of peace."
These were the words that Indonesia's first president Sukarno
opened the Asia Africa Conference with in 1955 in Bandung. With
these words, the nation embarked on a persistent, if somewhat
meandering, campaign to establish peace.
"We can demonstrate to the minority of the world which lives
on the other continents that we, the majority, are for peace, not
war, and whatever strength we have will always be thrown onto the
side of peace," Sukarno told the meeting.
Forty years have gone by since the 29 leaders in Asia and
Africa, vowed they would strive to establish an unique identity
in international affairs, and peaceful coexistent among nations.
This commitment proved to be a major turning point in post-
World War II history, inspiring the establishment of the Non-
Aligned Movement six years later.
The following countries attended the April 18-24 meeting held
at the Merdeka (Freedom) Building: Afghanistan, Burma (now
Myanmar), Cambodia, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), People's Republic of
China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gold Coast (now Ghana), India, Indonesia,
Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Nepal,
Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Thailand,
Turkey, Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the State of Vietnam and
Yemen.
The most prominent leaders at the Conference -- Indonesia's
president Sukarno, India's prime minister Jawarhalal Nehru, and
Egypt's president Gamal Abdel Nasser -- later took the initiative
to found NAM. They were supported by Yugoslavia's president Josip
Broz Tito and the government of Afghanistan. The Non-Aligned
Movement formally came into being as a result of the Belgrade
Conference, held between Sept. 1 and Sept. 6 in 1961.
Another result of the Asia-Africa Conference was the "Ten
Point Principles", since referred to as the Bandung Declaration
and the "Spirit of Bandung".
The 10 Point Principles:
1. Respect for fundamental human rights and for the purposes
and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
2. Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
all nations.
3. Recognition of the equality of all races and of the
equality of all nations large and small.
4. Abstention from intervention or interference in the
internal affairs of another country.
5. Respect for the right of each nation to defend itself
singly or collectively, in conformity with the Charter of the
United Nations.
6. (a) Abstention from the use of arrangements of collective
defense to serve the particular interests of any of the big
powers. (b) Abstention by any country from exerting pressures on
other countries.
7. Refraining from acts or threats of aggression or the use
of force against territorial integrity or political independence
of any country.
8. Settlement of all international disputes by peaceful
means, such as negotiation, conciliation, arbitration or judicial
settlement as well as other peaceful means of the parties' own
choice, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations.
9. Promotion of mutual interests and cooperation.
10. Respect for justice and international obligations.(swe)