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Bandung
Spirit-Genesis and Revitalization for 21st Century
28-29 November
2005
Manila, Philippine
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The Permanent Secretariat of AAPSO is very happy to be present at this
very important international conference on "Bandung Spirit- Genesis and
Revitalization for 21st Century".
We are very thankful to our friends especially Comrade Antonio Paris and
the PPSC for the efforts to make this conference a success. In this
conference, we shall discuss the following themes:
1. The historical importance of Bandung.
2. The application of Bandung Spirit to the contemporary challenges.
3. Bandung spirit and rejuvenation of NAM.
4. Bandung spirit to provide new dimensions to globalization.
5. The role of the Civil Society in mobilizing the people to face these
challenges.
I would like to remind our friends here that in keeping with the
historical importance of the Bandung Conference held in the year 1955,
the AAPSO has been always highlighting its spirit in international
relations. It is because of this, the Permanent Secretariat of AAPSO
organized a conference on " Vision of Bandung after 50 Years in Facing
New Challenges" last March 2005 in Cairo. It was an international
gathering that represented Asia, Africa, Europe and America in the
conference. Also several ambassadors who were accredited to Egypt were
also present. The discussion was very lively and thought provoking.
The main objective of this conference was not only to celebrate the 50th
Anniversary of the first Afro-Asian Conference but also to analyze and
evaluate the solidarity movement of Asian and African Countries during
the last 50 years. Also, to present a clear vision of Bandung Spirit and
NAM in the new context.
The conference called our national committees to convene other local,
regional and international events to highlight the main ideas of the
conference.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
All the previous conferences and meetings discussed the vitality of
Bandung Spirit or the ten principles of Dasasila about peaceful
coexistence, independence from colonialism and imperialism and building
a strong economy. As Asian and African Countries we do need these
principles especially in the light of the present challenges.
In April 1955, the historical African-Asian Conference chartered a new
alternative direction for the course of the world history. It created a
non-aligned movement as a strong bastion away from the blocks of the
developed world. It was a meeting which gave a call to end colonialism
in all its political, economic and social forms.
Objectively and historically speaking, the non-alignment movement cannot
revert to patterns of past methods and conditions. Today's world is
totally unlike yesterday's, and we always need to activate our
movement's role in keeping with the present trends. Accordingly, we need
to build a common international front of resistance to the forces of
oppression and reaction. A "new Bandung" should be emerged from the
peoples, the social movements will be the real front that will stand
against hegemonism. It will be popular groupings from the north and the
south who have common interests and objectives in order to achieve
peace, prosperity and security.
This "new Bandung" need to unite the movement of the emerging global
civil society that is embraced by all sectors of marginalised groups as
indigenous peoples, women, farmers and others. Together they will be
able to create a major and growing force of global economic, cultural
and political networks for human security and dignity.
With the change in the political map of the world, globalization became
the universal framework to identify the economic, political and social
position of the different countries. In the Third World, this generated
patterns of racial and social discrimination. Globalization,
essentially, aims to ensure sharing among countries in resources, wealth
and production. But the globalization under finance capital as it
operates today only benefits the rich countries. Therefore, it is our
aim to benefit from this globalization for the betterment of all
nations.
The developing countries were fettered by the agreements of the World
Trade Organization (WTO), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
World Bank. The trans-national corporations fully dominated the global
economy. These companies constituted the new form of exploitations. The
gap between the North and South widened. Also the gap became wider
between Asian and African countries over the last 50th years.
Globalization makes it difficult for our countries to compete with the
developed countries. It is an unfair competition between the north and
the south. Even the programs of the WTO increase the poverty rates of
our peoples and create as a result of that many problems as
unemployment, child labor and others.
Dear friends,
The permanent Secretariat hopes that we can find through our discussions
how to be able to build a common international front of resistance and
alternatives to form the new Bandung spirit. It is no doubt some factors
should be provided for building this social movements of resistance. The
most important one is that the governments of African and Asian
countries shall fully recognize the rights and responsibilities of the
civil society organizations. These organizations play an important role
in motivating peoples to resist all forms of savage capitalism. The
other main factor is to create a new human civilization based on the
diversities of peoples, with respect among the nations, in addition to
major issues like democracy, freedom, the use of information and
technological communications, and others. The Summit on the Information
Society held in Tunisia on (16-18 November 2005) called for ending the
US control over the Internet.
NAM should improve its international image. Unfortunately, most of NAM
leaders invested their enormous natural resources of their countries
either for profligate consumerism or stockpiling arms to protect their
rule and enrich themselves rather than for people oriented development.
The disgruntled people were naturally restive and the gap between the
ruler and the ruled. This should be completely changed as a part of
revitalization of NAM.
NAM countries responsibility is to eradicate all the obstacles as
corruption, authoritarianism, family bandysm and dictatorships and forge
a strong and solidarity for the cause of the people, where good
governance, impeccable commitment, and transparency would prevail.
Finally, The Permanent Secretariat would like to assure the decisions
mentioned on the Declaration on the New Asian-African Strategic
Partnership last April in Jakarta. AAPSO supports the last NAM
Ministerial Meeting on Information held recently in Kuala Lumpur which
decided to establish NAM Information Center.
The Jakarta strategic partnership provides a momentum in achieving
peace, prosperity and progress, based on the following principles and
ideals:
1. The Ten Principles of Bandung of the 1955 Asian -African Conference;
2. Recognition of diversity between and within the regions, including
different social and economic systems and levels of development;
3. Commitment to open dialogue, based on mutual respect and benefit;
4. Promotion of non-exclusive cooperation by involving all stakeholders;
5. Attainment of practical and sustainable cooperation based on
comparative advantage, equal partnership, common ownership and vision,
as well as a firm and shared conviction to address common challenges;
6. Promotion of sustainable partnership by complementing and building
upon existing regional/sub-regional initiatives in Asia and Africa;
7. Promotion of a just, democratic, transparent, accountable and
harmonious society;
8. Promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
including the right to development;
9. Promotion of collective and unified efforts in multilateral fora.
We thank you for your participation and contributions.
******************************* Speech of
Nouri Abdul Razzak Hussain
Secretary- General
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