REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Some 30 NGO activists staged a rally calling for the revival of the anti-colonialism and anti-imperialism spirit of the 1955 Asian-African Conference (AAC).
"We reject any intervention and domination by the United States on the AAC, and we encourage the return of the 1955 AAC's spirit of anti-imperialism and anti-colonialism, and the spirit that supports Palestinian struggle for independence and sovereignty," Rudi HB Daman, one of the activists, said on Monday (20/4).
He noted that the activists also oppose any attempt by colonial countries to make the AAC Summit a tool to gain control of natural resources in Asian and African countries.
They are against any domination by advanced countries such as the United States.
"We notice that the AAC agenda is dominated by discussions on business cooperation. Besides, the AAC is also attended by 17 observer countries such as the United States and some European nations, international organizations, and multinational companies," he remarked.
During the rally staged in front of the US embassy on Monday, some 18 members and leaders of the Agrarian Reform Movement Alliance-The People's Struggle Front, were arrested by police personnel.
They were protesting against the United States' alleged intervention in the Asian-African Conference.
"We just started the rally and the police detained 18 activists because they thought the rally was disturbing the security and arrangements for the AAC delegations," Rudi told Antara.
He described the arrest as an overreaction of the police because the activists were holding a peaceful rally.
The Indonesian Police have warned the people against staging rallies during the 60th commemoration of the Asian-African Conference that is being held in Jakarta from April 19 to 23, 2015, and in Bandung, West Java, on April 24, 2015.
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