The Asian-African Conference in Bandung (WIDF, 1955)

=== [PDF page 1] === Declarations of Support for the World Congress of Mothers Mme. ERIKA WENDLAND Member of Administrative Bureau of the Inter national Federation of Teachers’ Unions, Vice President of the Tec s and Educators’ Union of the German Democratic Republic, member of the International Preparatory Committee of the World Congress of Mothers. of a World Congress of Mothers in defence of their children. As a representative of the International Federation of Teachers Unions on the International Preparatory Committee for the World Congress of Mothers, I want to express my conviction that the seven and a half million teachers and educators belonging to the LF.T.U will contribute all their energies to making this Congress a complete The teachers and educators concerned with training the younger generation are deeply alarmed for the happiness and future of the children. Animated by deep indignation they are speaking out in every country against war propaganda and the use of weapons of mass destruction whose aim is to wipe out young lives. ( S a woman and a mother I wholeheartedly welcome the calling succe In the name of the International Federation of Teachers’ Unions and its affiliated organizations I assure you of our total support in all actions aimed against war and in favour of disarmament and the consolidation of friendship between the peoples Mme. GUSTA FUCIKOVA Widow of the writer and Czechoslovakian national hero Julius Fucik, member of the European Com mittee for a Peaceful Solution of the German Problem. and which thoroughly delights me. It is a new ray of light illuminating our way to a life of peace. What has never yet been achieved is going to be achieved mow. For the first time mothers from many countries are going to meet and together find a way of taking part in the fight against war, against barbarous weapons, and for peace and friendship between the peoples. Mothers have been united up to now in the same feeling of worry and fear at the threats of the war makers. [= World Congress of Mothers is an event which I welcome The World Congress of Mothers means the end of passive waiting, it means an active fight for peace, the organization of that great force, the mothers. Their strength is in their love for their children, for the life they have given and defend, and also im their hatred of everything that destroys life. The World Congress of Mothers must be for all mothers, for us all, an urgent and imperative appeal to unite our forces to assure peace and the fruition of human life. The Asian-African Conference at Bandung A Conference of African and Asian nations, called by the Governments of Burma, Ceylon, India, Indonesia and Pakistan, was held in Bandung, Indonesia, from 18th to 24th April, 1955. In addition to these countries the following States took part Afghanistan, Cambodia, People’s Republic of China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gold Coast, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Nepal, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, Democratic Republic of Viet Nam, the State of Viet Nam, and Yemen. The Conference studied the role of Asia and Africa, and examined the means which can enable the peoples of the countries represented to+realize the closest economic, cultural and political co-operation HAT are the perspectives of the Asian-African Conference for the women of these two continents? Mrs. Anasuya Gyanchand, Secretary of the All-India Women’s Federation, answers this question: “.., Now that so many nations in Asia have gained and are gaining their independence, they have realised that all nations must be respected and treated as equals if we want peace in the world. Africa has suffered similar agonies and if we could get together and say that the Pancha Shila (the five principles of coexistence), drawn up by our Prime Minister and the Prime Minister of China, should be the basis on which nations meet, we shall be bringing dignity and happiness to the lives of millions in the world. Asian and African countries are making this demand just as we women asked for our rights in India. It is we who must convince our brothers of the value of happy relations “If Asian countries are waking up, we as Indian women have our part to play in this renaissance and that is how we are associated with this Conference and have to play our part in it. We should, therefore, follow the proceedings carefully and try to understand them. “There is one more point. If we carefully study the conditions of Asia during the last few years we find that while, on the one hand, countries like India and China have won their freedom, nations like Japan and Pakistan are being given military aid. Whom do they have to fight? Why should Japan fight with China, or Pakistan with India? Who is planning to make Asians fight Asians? Why should we fight? We believe that even if there are differences of opinion they can be resolved by negotiations, not fights.. “Jf Asians stand together and do not allow any interference, if the voice of the Japanese women appealing against the use of hydrogen bombs is heard above the din of military preparations going on, then there will be hope for that country and similarly every other country in Asia and Africa. “Our desire and the desire for peace of the whole world is stronger than the desire of the few who want war for their own ends. But while they build up their piles of war materials we must build up our piles of goodwill and friendliness among nations, and that is a responsibility which we women must share.” The Bandung Conference was concluded with the adoption of a final communique which, among others, contains ten principles on the basis of which nations should “develop friendly co-operation”: 1. Respect for fundamental human rights and for the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. 2. Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations. 3. Recognition of the equdlity of all races and of the equality of all nations, large and small. 4. Abstention from intervention or interference in the internal affairs of another country. 5. Respect for the right of each nation to defend itself, singly or collectively, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations. 6. (a) Abstention from the use of arrangements of collective defence to serve the particular interests of any of the big powers. (b) Abstention by any country from exerting pressure 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 8. Settlement of all international disputes by peaceful means, such as negotiations, 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 10. Respect for justice and international obligations. The Asian and African Conference declares its conviction that friendly co-operation in accordance with these principles would effectively contribute to the maintenance and promotion of international peace and security, while co-operation in the economic, social and cultural fields would help bring about the common prosperity and wellbeing of all. On the problem of disarmament the Conference expressed itself as follows: The Conference considered that disarmament and the prohibition of the production, experimentation and use of nuclear and thermo-nuclear weapons of war are imperative to save mankind and civilization from the fear and prospect of wholesale destruction. It considered that the nations of Asia and Africa assembled here have a duty towards humanity and civilization to proclaim their support for disarmament and for prohibition of these weapons and to appeal to the nations principally concerned and to world opinion, to bring about such disarmament and prohibition.