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Your letters: Revitalizing 'Dasasila Bandung'
Tribute to heroes: Hundreds of Bandung residents attend a concert called Solidarity Day: Tribute to Sukarno and Mandela as part of 60th Asian-African Conference Commemoration in the West Java capital of Bandung on Tuesday
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span class="inline inline-center">Tribute to heroes: Hundreds of Bandung residents attend a concert called Solidarity Day: Tribute to Sukarno and Mandela as part of 60th Asian-African Conference Commemoration in the West Java capital of Bandung on Tuesday. JP/Arya Dipa
In today's simplified but complicated world, there are many events in a nation during which love for and a sense of pride in country declines. Unstable political and economic conditions, unfavorable policies and security disturbances bring more criticism and lead to negligence of the good points of a country in the view of its citizens.
The youth especially, who did not directly feel the bloody struggle of gaining national sovereignty, tend to be more easily trapped in such a situation.
Not only national problems, but the global situation also influences the level of patriotism of Indonesian youth. High exposure to news from other countries telling about subversive movements on behalf of something claimed to be more important than a country may erode love for the nation.
Amid a flurry of publications about many local and global conflicts and problems, the news on the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Asian-African Conference (AAC) comes as a thirst-quencher in a drought.
The conference, which is being hosted by Indonesia from April 19 to 24, can be used by Indonesia as momentum to neutralize negative sentiments toward the nation, which have possibly emerged because of the dislike of some policies taken by the government.
It can be a treat for Indonesians who are sick of news about ideological, political and economic problems. So, let's wear the 'Red Coat' and welcome the 60th anniversary of the AAC in Jakarta and Bandung.
Why should we wear a red coat? Founding president Sukarno advised his fellow countrymen by introducing the 'Jas Merah' slogan, which literarily means the 'red coat', but is actually an acronym of Jangan Sekali-kali Melupakan Sejarah (never forget history).
The 1955 conference was one of the important milestones in Indonesian history. Initiated by Indonesia and four other Asian countries, the conference brought about the Bandung Spirit, or Dasasila Bandung, which became the grounding principle for Asian and African cooperation. Its content concerning multilateralism, regionalism and human rights respect is still relevant today.
In this 2015 commemoration of the ACC, Asian and African countries have to revitalize the spirit of Dasasila Bandung into an updated theme of Advancing South-South Cooperation.
This theme has many things to do with the situation of Indonesia today. It is true that diplomats and national leaders are the main actors in the event and common people cannot participate directly in the conference.
However, the most important thing is that through this event, Indonesia can raise the spirit to build a good relationship with other nations, the spirit to struggle for the nation and the spirit to be proud of being Indonesian.
Ninuk Sholikhah Akhiroh
Semarang
