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Bandung Spirit-Genesis and Revitalization for 21st Century Speech Nouri Abdul Razzak

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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.

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Speech of
Nouri Abdul Razzak Hussain
Secretary- General
 
    

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