Merdeka
Building &
Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of Asian-African
Conference
Do you know Merdeka Building? Merdeka Building or
in Indonesian called Gedung Merdeka is an art-deco building at Jalan Asia-Afrika, Bandung, Indonesia. Today it serves as a museum displaying collections and
photographs of the Asian–African Conference, the first Non-Aligned Movement that was held there in 1955.
This building was designed in 1926 in art
deco style by Van Galen and C.P. Wolff Schoemaker, both professors at Technische
Hogeschool (today ITB) and famous architects of that time. The
7500 m² building had Italian marble floors, some saloon and rooms incikenhout wooden finishing, and was adorned with
crystal lamps on the ceilings.
Merdeka Building also known as the Asian-African Museum is a
historical place that is open to anyone. We can visit this place at any time to
see the historical heritage of Asian-African Conference in 1955. Inside, we can
see the flags belonging to countries that belong to the members of the
Asian-African Conference and we also can watch documentaries movies,
photographs, libraries and much more.
For those of you who don’t know what it is Asian-African
Conference, I will give a little information about it.
Asian-African Conference is the 1955 gathering brought leaders from Asia and
Africa to Bandung, Indonesia, to discuss the role the developing world would
play in the future global economy, peace and security during the Cold War. The
non-aligned movement still holds regular summits and is recognized by the
United Nations, but it largely fell into irrelevance after the Berlin Wall came
down in 1989, ending the Cold War, and many of its founding members fell out of
power in their countries or became embroiled in conflicts.
In relation to that, on April 19 to 24 yesterday,
commemorating the city of Bandung Asian-African Conference to 60. This is one
of the biggest celebrations organized by the city of Bandung, all citizens
participate in this celebration. Bandung Mayor, Ridwan Kamil has been preparing
for this celebration such a way as to welcome delegates from member countries
of Asian-African Conference.
Ministerial
level meetings will kick off in Jakarta on April 20. The Asian-African summit
will then be held in the capital from April 22 to 23, with Indonesian President
Joko Widodo scheduled to give the opening address. Indonesia has invited
delegates from 109 Asian and African countries, 16 observer countries and 25
international organizations. Around 30 heads of state from countries including
Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, South Africa, Mozambique and Pakistan
have confirmed their attendance, Mr. Nasir said. Around 20 foreign affairs
ministers have also said they would attend the events. Delegates are scheduled
to arrive in Jakarta a day before the events begin.
The
Asia-Africa conference was originally held to address peace, security and
economic problems caused by both the “Western bloc and Eastern bloc” during the
Cold War trying to earn support from Asian and African countries, the event’s
official website stated. It was hosted by then-president Sukarno just 10 years
after Indonesian independence and attended by leaders from Myanmar, India,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
In addition to welcome delegates, citizens of Bandung
perform some ceremonies, events and festivals, some of them are Solidarity Day
Tribute to Soekarno and Mandela, Bandung 1955 Photo Exhibition of 1955 Asian
African Conference, Asian African meet
and greet Mall to Mall Performace, Angklung for the World (20000 Angklung
Performance), Asian African Parade (A costume and music street festival),
Festival of Nations Asian African Cultural Performances, etc.
