The legends of '55, leaders to watch in 2005

The legends of '55, leaders to watch in 2005

The magnitude of the 1955 Bandung conference was, in part, due to
the presence of Asian and African leaders who were legends in
their own time. Who will shine at the 2005 summit?

Below are brief sketches of the legends of 1955 and the
potential stars of this coming summit.

Legends of 1955

Sukarno

The Indonesian president was a fiery orator who could captivate
an audience whenever he took the podium. His speech in Bandung's
cavernous Gedung Merdeka in 1955 called the peoples of Asia and
Africa "the majority" who should "inject the voice of reason into
world affairs". Sukarno was, perhaps, the primary catalyst of the
1955 conference.

Jawaharlal Nehru

India's first prime minister drafted the document that evolved
into the Bandung conference's 10-point principles. They embodied
Nehru's passion for a non-aligned foreign policy and called for
the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means.

Zhou Enlai

Communist China's first premier was not among the five organizers
of the Bandung conference, but was a prominent player. Urbane and
charming, he introduced the People's Republic of China to the
world stage and assured participants it had no plans for
expansion. Zhou yielded the Bandung spotlight to other leaders.

Gamal Abdul Nasser

Egypt's leader was one of the most important Arab leaders of the
20th century and a key player from Africa at the Bandung meeting.
His penchant for decisive action against the West went down well
with Sukarno and Nehru.

Norodom Sihanouk

The prince went to Bandung in 1955 as one of the youngest leaders
amid the great revolutionaries of his time. He met China's Zhou
Enlai and the Vietnamese delegate who assured him that Cambodia's
bigger neighbors would respect its independence. Like other
Bandung players, he had uneasy relations with the United States
during the Cold War. He is the only one of the legendary Bandung
leaders still alive.

Rising stars 2005

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

Indonesia's first ever democratically elected president is a
model for countries emerging out of authoritarianism. Fully aware
of the power of the media, he carries himself well in public.
Though only in his sixth month as president, Susilo has been
repeatedly thrust into the international spotlight and is
accustomed to soaking up the limelight.

Thabo Mbeki

Co-chair of the summit. Handpicked by Nelson Mandela to succeed
him as South African president in 1999, Mbeki is known as an
independent and original thinker. Since then, he has emerged from
Mandela's shadow to become one of the most respected and
outspoken leaders on the African continent.

Manmohan Singh

The Indian Prime Minister is a member of Nehru's Congress party
who only rose to power after Sonia Gandhi -- wife of Nehru's
murdered grandson, Rajiv Gandhi -- declined to accept the post
and continue the Nehru dynasty.

Hu Jintao

The 61-year-old Chinese premier is a pragmatist like his
predecessor Zhou Enlai. But unlike his revolutionary predecessor,
Hu was known as more of a technocrat before emerging from the
shadows to take China's top jobs in 2002-2003. He has since built
up his power and popularity by portraying himself as a man of the
people.

Hamid Karzai

Elegant yet traditional, Karzai is no longer thought of as just
another Afghan tribal leader. Karzai has attained iconic status
with his trademark astrakhan hat and long coat embroidered in the
national colors. He has many attributes, including six languages:
his native Pashto, plus Dari, Hindi and Urdu as well as the two
tongues of global diplomacy -- French and gently American-
accented English.

Pervez Musharraf

The Pakistani president has been a man in the headlines due to
his country's role as a frontline state in the war against
terrorism. An eloquent militaryman, he along with his Indian
counterpart are the leading figures in South Asia.

Olusegun Obasanjo

As chairman of the Organization of African Unity, the Nigeria
leader's voice at the summit represents, to a large extent, that
of the continent. He was first elected president of Africa's most
populous nation in 1999, becoming the first civilian ruler in 15
years. --JP/Reuters