With severe inequality, geopolitical rivalry and rampant interstate conflicts plaguing the world, the Indonesian government is intent on reviving the spirit of the historic Asian-African Conference (KAA) as a means to push for stability and peace.
Tama Salim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Headlines | Wed, April 15 2015, 5:30 AM
With severe inequality, geopolitical rivalry and rampant interstate conflicts plaguing the world, the Indonesian government is intent on reviving the spirit of the historic Asian-African Conference (KAA) as a means to push for stability and peace.
Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said that the strengthening of ties between Asia and Africa during the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the event represents a rare opportunity to realize the goals.
“With Asia now becoming the engine of growth with a contribution of more than 40 percent to the world’s [gross domestic product] GDP and Africa becoming a continent of hope, we are in a better position […] to shape the world,” she said in a speech delivered for a seminar in the lead-up to the KAA commemoration event on Tuesday.
Aside from promoting the spirit of equality, solidarity and respect for human rights, Retno said that disseminating the spirit of the Bandung Principle — also known as Dasasila Bandung, a 10-point statute resulting from the 1955 conference — was also a way to promote mutual growth through peaceful means.
Retno said that Asian and African nations could benefit from combining stability, democracy and development as the basis for shared growth and prosperity, a lesson learned from Indonesia’s history.
“Indonesia has come far to be recognized by the international community as an emerging power and regional player because we can combine stability, democracy and development, […] not because of our military strength or fast economic growth,” she said.
In the planned summit, Retno said that Indonesia would propose a number of initiatives.
According to Yuri Octavian Thamrin, the ministry’s director general for the Asia-Pacific and Africa, the government will prioritize eight areas of cooperation as a follow-up to the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP).
The eight areas, including counterterrorism, food security and the empowerment of women, will be taken as themes in discussions led by a “champion country” that has vast experience in the particular field.
“The NAASP is important; we can talk about Asian-African relations all we want, but without a mechanism to act on them, there will be no concrete collaboration,” Yuri told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
For the planned summit, at least 28 heads of states have confirmed attendance at the conference, including Japan’s Shinzo Abe and China’s Xi Jinping, as well as leaders from Pakistan and South Africa.
Yuri said that preparations for the conference were nearing completion, as confirmed attendance continued to increase and the government had received the consolidated text from New York.
Meanwhile, strict security measures have also been put in place ahead of the event.
The National Police’s Mobile Brigade (Brimob) will deploy a total of 1,915 officers to secure the Asian-African Conference, which is slated to run in Jakarta and Bandung.
The police personnel are expected to be deployed on Wednesday at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta.
“It is our duty to make sure that the Asian-African Conference is successful so as to boost cooperation between Asian and African countries,” said Sr. Comr. Leo Bona Lubis, the head of Brimob’s operational unit.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Military (TNI) will deploy 26,663 personnel to secure the event.
TNI chief Gen. Moeldoko said that the security for heads of state was very tight, but he declined to confirm if there was an order to shoot intruders on sight.
“VVIP security has its own standards. [We should know] the level of threat first. If the threat will bring danger to life, the last action will be like that [shoot on the spot],” Moeldoko said. (saf)
— Fedina S. Sundaryani contributed to this report
