Sri Lankas role in NAM by M.H.K.S.De S.

Jayasekara
The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is an international organization of states which aims to represent the political, economic and cultural interests of the developing world. Independent countries, which chose not to join any of the Cold War blocs, were known as nonaligned nations. As of 2010, the organization has 118 members and

18 observer countries. The movement's members are drawn from Asia, Africa, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Belarus remains the sole member of the Movement in Europe. At the seventh summit held in New Delhi in March 1983, the movement described itself as "History's biggest peace movement". Its 113 members hold more than half the world's population and 85% of oil resources, but only 7% of global GDP (1995). They represent nearly two-thirds of the United Nations's members and 55% of the world population, particularly countries considered to be developing or part of the Third World. During the Cold War, between the USSR and Eastern Europe on the one hand and the USA and Western Europe on the other, the world split into two camps. However, during the 1960s a third camp, the non-aligned movement emerged. Made up of countries that had gained independence from the European empires in the period after World War II, the movement tried to act as a stabilizing force between the two superpower blocs, as well as giving its members a more powerful voice through unity. The term "non-alignment" itself was created by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru during his speech in 1954 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In this speech, Nehru described the five pillars to be used as a guide for Sino-Indian relations, which were first put forth by Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai. Called Panchsheel (five restraints), these principles would later serve as the basis of the Non-Aligned Movement. The five principles were:


Mutual

respect

for

each

other's

territorial

integrity

and sovereignty
  

Mutual non-aggression Mutual non-interference in domestic affairs Equality and mutual benefit
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Peaceful co-existence

The movement had its origins in the 1947 Asian Relations Meeting in New Delhi and the 1955 Asian-African Conference in Bandung, Indonesia, which Asian and African states met to find common ground and agreement for future cooperation, and proclaimed anticolonialism and neutrality between East and West power blocs. This summit meeting was the first time the Third World nations, most of them fresh from winning their independence from colonialism, had met together without the Western powers present. It was convened upon the invitation of the Prime Ministers of Burma, Ceylon, India, Indonesia and Pakistan and brought together leaders of 29 states. The movement was founded by the Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Ghana's prime minister Kwame Nkrumah, Egypt's president Gamal Abdel Nasser, Indonesia's president

Achmed Sukarno, and Yugoslavia's president Tito. Their actions were known as 'The Initiative of Five'. The principles that would govern relations among large and small nations, known as the "Ten Principles of Bandung", were proclaimed at that Conference. Such principles were adopted later as the main goals and objectives of the policy of nonalignment. Following this meeting a preparatory meeting for the First NAM Summit Conference was held in Cairo, from 5-12 June 1961. At the Cairo preparatory meeting the participants discussed in detail the principal aims and objectives of a policy of non-alignment. Where the invitations for Bandung were on a regional basis, the invitations for the first Summit were based on each invited country's commitment to a set of shared principles. The first summit of NAM heads of state took place in the Yugoslav capital Belgrade in 1961 at the instigation of Yugoslav President Tito. Twenty-five countries were represented and the threat of war between the US and the Soviet Union dominated the summit. Sri Lanka was a founder of the Non-Aligned Movement. Sri Lanka's Prime Minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike attended the inaugural Summit, stepping on to the world stage as the world's first woman Prime Minister. In this summit she stated that "I am happy to attend this great assembly not only as a representative of my country but also as a woman and a mother who can understand the thoughts and feelings of the millions of women, the mothers of this world, who are deeply concerned with the preservation of the human race." Ensuring Sri Lankas participation at the Belgrade Summit along with Tito, Nehru, Nasser, Nkrumah, Castro, Sukarno and other giants of the emerging global south was an
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instinctive and historic act on Premier Bandaranaikes part. She attended the second Summit held in Cairo in 1964 and in 1976 hosted the fifth Summit in Colombo. Sri Lankas participation in the Nonaligned Summits of 1961 in Belgrade and 1964 in Cairo had already carved out a permanent place for this Island Nation in global politics. The Non-Aligned Movement has created a unique form of administrative style. NonAligned administration is non-hierarchical, rotational and inclusive, providing all member states, regardless of size and importance, with an opportunity to participate in global decision-making and world politics. The Summit is the occasion when the Movement formally rotates its Chair to the Head of State of the host country of the Summit, who then holds office until the next Summit. The Summit Conference of Heads of State or Government is the highest decision-making authority of the Movement. The Chair is at the same time also delegated certain responsibilities for promoting the principles and activities of the Movement. The practice of the Movement is to make all decisions by consensus. Consensus has enhanced the solidarity and unity of the Movement. The structures also exist in order to promote the process of achieving a commonality of positions and interests and to see to it that Non-Aligned countries speak with one voice in international meetings and negotiations. The NAM says it aims to protect the right of nations to "Independent Judgement" and to counter imperialism. Since its inception the Movement attempted to create an independent path in world politics. This resulted in a large part of its history being influenced by the global tension of the Cold War between the two super powers. However, the Cold War was not the sole or only critical issue on the agenda of the NonAligned Movement. Thus, the primary of objectives of the non-aligned countries focused on the support of self-determination, national independence and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States; opposition to apartheid; non-adherence to multilateral military pacts and the independence of non-aligned countries from great power or block influences and rivalries; the struggle against imperialism in all its forms and manifestations; the struggle against colonialism, neocolonialism, racism, foreign occupation and domination; disarmament; non-interference into the internal affairs of States and peaceful coexistence among all nations; rejection of the use or threat of use of force in international relations; the strengthening of the United Nations; the democratization of international relations; socioeconomic development and the
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restructuring of the international economic system; as well as international cooperation on an equal footing. By the end of the 1980s, the Movement was facing the great challenge brought about by the collapse of the socialist block. The end of the clash between the two antagonistic blocks that was the reason for its existence, name and essence was seen by some as the beginning of the end for the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. Since the end of the Cold War and the formal end of colonialism, the Non-Aligned Movement has been forced to redefine itself and reinvent its purpose in the current world system. Thereafter, the focus shifted away from essentially political issues, to the advocacy of solutions to global economic, international action against poverty, environmental destruction, nuclear testing, and drug-trafficking. Fifteen Summits have so far been held, in Belgrade (1961), Cairo (1964), Lusaka (1970), Algiers (1973), Colombo (1976), Havana (1979), New Delhi (1983), Harare (1986), Belgrade (1989), Jakarta (1992), Cartegena de Indias Spain (1995), Durban (1998), Kuala Lumpur (2003), Havana (2006) and Sham El Sheikh Egypt (2009). Subsequent conferences involved ever-increasing participation by developing countries. The 1964 Conference in Cairo, with 47 countries represented, featured widespread condemnation of Western colonialism and the retention of foreign military installations. As one Summit after another was held in the 1960s and 1970s, "non alignment", turned already into the "Movement of Non-Aligned Countries" that included nearly all Asian and African countries, was becoming a forum of coordination to struggle for the respect of the economic and political rights of the developing world. A little over a decade after Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country, Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaikes pioneering role and her unshakeable identification with Nonalignment set an irreversible trend in Sri Lankas foreign policy providing the islandnation with an invaluable reservoir of international support. Mrs.Bandaranaikes reelection in 1970 as Prime Minister, she was able to lead the Sri Lanka delegation to the Lusaka Summit in 1970 and to the Algiers Summit in 1973. When the venue for the next summit was under consideration, after the Lusaka summit, Mrs.Bandaranaikes strong interest in contributing to the movement that she had helped found led her to put forward Sri Lankas interest in hosting a summit.
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In 1976 Sri Lanka hosted the fifth NAM Summit in Colombo, a meeting of 85 nations, representing approximately 2 billion people. The newly constructed Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) was the venue. Thereafter Sri Lanka occupied the NAM chair for three years. Under the leadership of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the conference issued a declaration demanding "a new world economic order," with its "essential component" being a "new, universal finance and currency system." Colombo summit can be considered as the main contribution given by Sri Lanka for the development of the Non Aligned Movement. One of Mrs. Bandaranaikes successful initiatives as the premier of Sri Lanka was her proposal to make the Indian Ocean a zone of peace. She first mentioned the idea briefly in her speech at the NAM Summit in Lusaka in September 1970, and it was reflected in the final declaration of the Lusaka summit. As a result of this, the United Nations General Assembly declared the Indian Ocean a

zone of peace by resolution 2832 (1971). The declaration upheld the need to preserve the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the states of the Indian Ocean region and sought to resolve political, economic and social issues affecting the region under conditions of peace and security. When Mrs.Bandaranaike deprived in the election in 1977, the president J.R. Jayawardene came into power, and since his sceptical views over NAM Sri Lanka failed to gain the benefits of the chairmanship of NAM. Then the chairmanship was handed over to Cuba in 1979. However, Mrs. Bandaranaikes contribution to NAM remains indelible, her

consolidation of NAM policies in Sri Lanka decisive. President Jayewardenes aberrations from Non aligned policies such as the vote for the UK in the Malvinas Islands issue at the UN brought negative consequences for Sri Lanka. The 1989 Belgrade Summit was the last one to be held before Yugoslavias disintegration and at a time when Cold War was just ending. It gave a call against international terrorism, smuggling and drug trafficking. The principle of self-determination was reiterated particularly in the context of South Africa and her continued rule over Namibia. The tenth conference at Jakarta in 1992 was the first assembly of NAM after the end of Cold War. The eleventh conference, held in October 1995 at Cartagena,
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Columbia, was attended by delegates and heads of state from 113 developing countries, including the South African president Nelson Mandela, the Cuban president Fidel Castro, and the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Yassir Arafat. Through the summits of Durban (1998), Kuala Lumpur (2003), Havana (2006) and Sham El Sheikh Egypt (2009) NAM has developed into further extent. After Mrs.Bandaranaikes regime Sri Lankas contribution to the movement remained low. Since then Sri Lanka did not participate actively in NAMs work. Sixty-three heads of state and government attended the two-day XIIIth NAM Summit on the theme, Continuing the Revitalisation of NAM in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 24-25 February 2003. This is the largest gathering of Heads of State and Government in a NAM Summit to date. Sri Lankas President Chandrika Kumaratunge, addressing the NAM summit stressed the need for a review of a new role, vision and plan of action for NAM, focusing on the urgent need for sustainable economic development of each Member State. The Sri Lankan President pledged Sri Lankas fullest support to strengthening the NAM Secretariat. President Mahinda Rajapaksa attended the 15th Summit held in Sham El Sheikh Egypt July 2009. The President added that it was time to recognize that terrorism had become the most de-humanising and politically destabilizing occurrence of the 20th Century. He further stressed that defeating the terrorism in Sri Lanka was not only a victory of Sri Lanka but also a victory of all the nations in the world. In conclusion, the Non-Aligned Movement was born out of the desire of the developing Nations to safeguard their sovereign independence in the context of the Cold War conflict which prevailed between two power blocs. As a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, Sri Lanka has been significantly contributing in the development of the movement throughout its history. During its nearly 50 years of existence, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries has gathered a growing number of States and liberation movements which, in spite of their ideological, political, economic, social and cultural diversity, have accepted its founding principles and primary objectives and shown their readiness to realize them. Historically, the non-aligned countries have shown their ability to overcome their differences and found a common ground for action that leads to mutual cooperation and the upholding of their shared values. The Non-Aligned Movement, faced

with the goals yet to be reached and the many new challenges that are arising, is called upon to maintain a prominent and leading role in the current International relations in defense of the interests and priorities of its member states and for achievement of peace and security for mankind.