What next after 11th NAM summit in Colombia?

What next after 11th NAM summit in Colombia?

By Rajesh Kumar

JAKARTA (JP): Colombia has formally taken over the leadership of the 113-nation Non-Aligned Movement from Indonesia, during the organization's 11th summit recently.

Initially, some doubts were expressed about Colombia's ability because it not only lacks experience to lead such forums but also because it is much embroiled in its domestic problems.

In the past three years, during Indonesia's chairmanship, frame work has been laid for the movement to work in the post- Cold War atmosphere. Therefore, what the movement needs most is strongly committed leaders to perpetuate the movement's new spirit.

Does Colombia have a leader, in its President Ernesto Samper Pizano, to effectively guide the Movement?

Unlike President Soeharto, or any of the movement's past leaders, very little is known about President Samper, especially in this part of the world.

But the Colombian president showed his capability to lead the Non-Aligned Movement when he suggested an alternative development model that puts "people first".

In his inauguration speech after taking over the chairmanship from President Soeharto, Samper described the model as one that would create citizens who are more politically aware and more economically productive.

Samper emphasized the unfinished agenda, saying that if the movement wants to grow stronger, it must draw closer to its peoples.

"We believe that people must be the nucleus of the movement. We need an alternative development model that will allow us to create a new citizens ready to tackle the challenges of the 21st century," he said.

These words, though sounding like that of a visionary, are very spirited and inspiring enough to sustain the momentum and effectiveness of the movement.

Moreover, by stating that non-alignment no longer merely means freedom to determine one's own national interests, but also the right not to be aligned with poverty, pollution, drugs, oppression, suffering and dictatorship, the president has given an additional dimension and agenda to the movement and its activities.

To lead the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is a hazardous task because NAM's statutes require full consensus on every decision.

Though the movement was unanimously able to agree to accept Turkmenistan as its 113th member, the impasse reached during a consultative meeting between heads of states reminds one of the fact that only a strong commitment to non-alignment can take all members together.

Fortunately, President Samper is aware of this when he says, "It is thanks to Indonesia's commitment that we today receive a movement which is more active in world affairs."

President Samper also pointed out during the summit that many of the topics that preoccupy NAM require instruments such as the United Nations. And therefore, he said, "It is our (NAM's) intention to democratize the mechanism and procedures of the United Nations."

The summit, thanks to Colombia, managed to adopt a 99-page, 345-point final document, which exhaustively covers an extensive list of global political and economic affairs.

This was condensed in the "Call from Colombia", a document almost similar to the "Jakarta Message" that was produced at the end of NAM's 10th summit in the Indonesian capital in 1992.

The document states the non-aligned position on various issues, including the need to address the economic problems of developing countries, which make up the bulk of the movement's 113 members.

It opens with an appeal to restructure, revitalize and democratize the United Nations. It stresses on the need for the achievement of complete disarmament, including the elimination of nuclear weapons. It also shows concern towards the growing intrusion of the more powerful states and NAM's opposition to imposing of such unilateral measures against them.

However, the biggest achievement for Colombia came when the new chairman announced South Africa as the movement's next leader, when Colombia's tenure ends in 1998. This announcement broke with NAM's tradition of naming the next leader half-way through the current leadership.

This announcement means that Colombia has assured herself that the movement will not suffer any setback during its chairmanship. This will, at least, serve to sustain, if not increase, the present momentum of the NAM.

It is because of the hidden message that President Nelson Mandela will be its next leader, which lends enough credibility to NAM.

The author is a Visiting Fellow at Centre for Strategic & International Studies, Jakarta.