A Reflection on the Fiftieth Anniversary of Asian-African Conference and the Birth of Non-Aligned Movement.
By Hafid Abbas[1]
In occasion of commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the Asian-African Conference, 19-24 April 2005 in Jakarta and Bandung, it is deemed relevant for us to reflect and look back at the ideas and background of the convening of the Asian-African Conference which inspired the birth of the Non-Aligned Movement, what has been achieved and how relevant the Spirit of Bandung is in response to the present and future challenges. Reflection on this interconnectedness could enlighten us which way forwards this spirit could lead us in the post commemoration of five-decade long of Asian-African struggle.
Asian African Conference was convened in a political environment where the Cold War was at the midst between two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union. Asian African countries decided not to get caught in the middle of polarization between the then two superpowers. They determined to create new forces, maintaining their non-alignment and independence. This determination was clearly reflected in the final communiqué of the Asian-African Conference, which was known as Dasasila Bandung or Ten Principles of Bandung. This Spirit of Bandung was the pinnacle of the awakening of political awareness among the Asian-African leaders who indomitably positioned themselves as non-aligned force or the third world which took no side to the first world categorized as the capitalist world, and the second world, known as the forces of the socialist world.
The Asian-African Conference adopted the Ten Principles, which are as follows: respect for fundamental human rights and for the purposes and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations; respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations; recognition of the equality of all races and of the equality of all nations large and small; respect for the right of each nation to defend itself singly or collectively, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations; 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; refraining from acts or threats of aggression or the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence
of any country; 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; promotion of mutual interests and co-operation; respect for justice and international obligations.
This Spirit of Bandung granted a big political and social resonance for Asian-African nations aspiring for independence. They stood up and fought for freedom, free from colonialism. In Africa, at that time, out of now 39 countries, only five had the status of being independent, South Africa (1910), Egypt (United Arab Republic, 1922), Liberia and Ethiopia (1947) and Libya (1951). The rest of them were colonies of Britain, France, Belgium and Germany. Six years after the convening of Asian-African Conference those then new independent states along with other Asian-African leaders made up a united front to, once again, reaffirm their collective awareness in opposition to the hegemony of global injustices under the two superpowers – United States and Soviet Union. This turned out to be the prime reason for the birth of Non-Aligned Movement, proclaimed at the first summit meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, 1-6 September 1961. The founders of the Movement, President Soekarno of Indonesia, Gamal Abdul Nasser of Egypt, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Marshall Tito of Yugoslavia and Jawaharhal Nehru of India determined to find the best solution to detach them from being dependent on superpowers. They, in unison in the framework of the Movement, in one voice, one spirit and one ideal, voiced their non-alignment and denounced all forms of colonialism on earth in line with the Spirit of Bandung. As the name suggests, member countries of the Movement have only one option, which is, neither subjugated by the political interest of any one nor under control of those superpowers.
However, in the course of its history, long and winding, in four decades, the Movement had been in a difficult situation, giving an impression of sprawling its orientation, following the breakup of the Soviet Union and its ramifications resulting the United States to become the only superpower on earth. The struggle of the Movement as a force of developing countries was losing its momentum and focus and its vitality in international arena was diluting. To make things worse, the summit meetings, supposed to convene every three years, could not take place in due time. In this kind of situation, the Movement apparently seemed to focus its attention in non-controversial issues, namely, poverty, population, environment, smuggling, drugs, etc.
This situation dramatically changed following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attack. The Movement again repositioned itself to find its place in international arena, reactualization of its spirit to promote justice in favor of the weak nations. In case of Iraq, for instance, the Movement discovered a new momentum. The Movement is in the business to redefine its role in a globe of unipolar world, where developing countries have to stand up for their sovereign rights against the hegemonic interest of a global political force.
As pointed out by President George W. Bush when he declared the war on terrorism, addressed to all nations of the world to choose their option “Are you with us, or against us?”. This created polarization and fragmentation of political and economic forces on the basis of adversary or ally. This doctrine of black-and-white dichotomy, enemy or ally, represents a new mess in the political map of Asian-African countries. Countries lacking of bargaining power were easily subjugated and found it difficult to keep their independence and non-aligned stance against the pressure and hegemonic political global forces. Even the United Nations, supposed to voice justice and interest of all nations in the world, in many instances, were not able to maintain its impartiality. The United States once indicated its pressure on the very existence of the United Nations, by saying that there was something irrelevant if the United Nations was not in agreement with Washington’s attack in Iraq. United States aggression in Iraq was opposed by a great deal of countries, including Russia, China and France. But, this opposition gave no effect. In contrary, during the Cold War era, when the war machine of the two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, were at par, domination of one polar against the weaks are quite far from coming to light.
Nowadays, the international political map has tremendously changed. There is no more disparity and no new emerging force capable of contesting the mighty United States. Some observers would like to see that China someday could become a new superpower capable of challenging the United States. India in collaboration with China can be considerably potential to challenge the United States. But, it is not in a near future.
This global political mess is a true challenge to the fate of the Movement. During the Cold War period, the Movement was the vehicle for the developing countries to promote their interests. The commemoration of the Asian-African Conference should be regarded as the best momentum for the Movement to reaffirm its commitment to promote justice, peace, eradication of all forms of colonialism on earth. Considering its size and number, the Movement could be a powerful body, consisting of 114 member states, representing more than half of the population of the world. But, its huge size and greatness can be nothing if there is no common denominator to affirm its determination to meet the objectives of the Movement. The unifying factors can be nothing else but the revitalization and reactualization of the spirit and the ideal of the Conference and the Movement.
In the post World War II, there has been no such comparable critical situation where weak countries could become the target of an imperialistic ambition of a powerful country. There is a source of concern of the emergence of a military force using its power as a tool for dominating weak countries and at the same time controlling their economic resources in the pretext of pre-emptive action against terrorism. Therefore, it is a necessity for the Movement to reaffirm its commitment and spirit to fight in favor of the weaks for global justice as a universal dimension of human rights. With the spirit of this commemoration summit theme “Reinvigorating the Bandung Spirit: Working towards a New Asian-African Strategic Partnership”, the summit which will be inaugurated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, should not fail to bring the Movement, equipped with a new synergy and a true strategic partnership, to pass the torch of fulfilling the dream of Bandung Conference in promoting peace, stability and welfare in the two continents.
[1] Director General for Human Rights Protection, Department of Justice and Human Rights, Republic of Indonesia
Hafid Abbas' New Vision 