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The resume of
the International Conference on
"Vision of
Bandung after 50 years - Facing New Challenges"
held in Cairo
1-3 March 2005, at
Pyramisa hotel
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Afro-Asian Peoples Solidarity Organization was the creation of the
Bandung spirit, a peoples movement of the Afro-Asian world. It was
nothing but appropriate that after 50 years of this historic conference,
time had come to take stock of the world situation to forge a stronger
movement of the people, to meet new challenges.
The
international conference held in Cairo on 1-3 March 2005 was the first
of its kind. AAPSO has already taken initiative to convene the second
such international conference in New Delhi, India, probably at the end
of April 2005 with the All India Peace and Solidarity Organization. The
Cairo conference was attended by 18 countries with 29 delegates and 18
embassies in Cairo sent their representatives. The Egyptian Foreign
Ministry sent a representative who made a contribution highlighting the
event. The local participants including the press took part in the
conference.
The
conference was conducted in seven sessions under different themes such
as significant role of Bandung; the end of the bi-polar system and
unilateralism; Palestine and Iraq; building strong solidarity movement;
and revitalizing NAM and expected role of the UNO.
Very
valuable and thought provoking papers were presented by experts both
foreign and local which generated lively discussion. There were critical
analysis of the whole concept including the failure and drawback of the
Non-Aligned Movement. Speakers highlighted the importance of
transparency, democracy, human rights and good governance as priority
for sustainability of any movement. They pointed out the lack of these
salient principles in most of the NAM countries which resulted in
weakening the movement. There is a big gap between the rulers and the
ruled which has to be bridged. Peoples aspiration need to be reflected
by the government. The revitalization of NAM depend on how these issues
are debated, and respected by the governments.
Dictatorship, family bandyism and one party rule are issues that affect
the proper functioning of governments. They retard the development
process. The last 50 years have provided enough time to take stock of
the situation and correct our own mistakes. How many countries of the
Non-Aligned Movement were able to adhere to the very principles of the
Bandung -the "Dasa Sila Principles" (ten principles) enunciated in 1955
extending the Pancha Sila (five principles) signed between India and
China in 1954?. These serious lapses have disrupted the unity not only
among countries but also within the countries as we have seen in Asia
and Africa during the last five decades.
The
Cairo conference has made a good start and will continue in other
regions. It is hoped that the unity which was forged in 1955 in Bandung
could be revived and strengthened to face the new challenges of the
Human Kind.
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Permanent Secretariat of AAPSO
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