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)