Be part of the struggle to realize the ideals of Bung Karno. Humming peace songs in our hearts and souls. Let us join hands in the spirit of brotherhood and solidarityBeijing (ANTARA) - Former President of the Republic of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri invited world leaders at the 8th World Peace Forum (WPF) in Beijing, China Monday to jointly realize the ideals of Indonesia's first President Soekarno or popularly known as Bung Karno. "Be part of the struggle to realize the ideals of Bung Karno. Humming peace songs in our hearts and souls. Let us join hands in the spirit of brotherhood and solidarity," said the Chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) as the main speaker at the WPF.
Her father inherited an ideal of world peace that was free from disputes and tensions so that children could grow up free because justice and welfare applied to everyone, according to the daughter of the Indonesian Proclamator.
"An ideal world where all nations live peacefully as brothers and sisters. Therefore, be assured that one day the sun of peace will emerge, the sun of emancipation that illuminates the whole new world without oppression," she said while speaking at the forum.
Megawati then quoted her father's speech at the United Nations General Session in 1960 on world stability which was the responsibility of the same and mutually beneficial to all.
"At that time, Bung Karno said it was unfair to isolate a country from international relations. At that time Bung Karno, as a representative of Indonesia, championed China's membership in the United Nations, fighting for the reunification of the people in Korea, Vietnam and Africa which was divided by imperialism," she said at a forum held at the Tsinghua University campus.
Bung Karno, she continued, had also fought for Algerian independence and economic independence for Cuba and Laos.
In the forum which was also attended by former Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, former Belgian PM Herman van Rompuy, the former Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, Megawati stated that Indonesia's involvement in creating world peace was not to be doubted.
"Indonesia is actively doing this in a concrete way, such as the extraordinary event that took place in 1955, namely the Asia Africa Conference. Then by building the Non-Aligned Movement, since 1957 until now, we in Indonesia have sent 23 peacekeepers called the Garuda Contingent," she said.
She also encouraged world leaders to inculcate the habits of the Indonesian people who always prioritized deliberation to reach a consensus while resolving each dispute.
Before speaking at the forum, Megawati had met with Vice President of China Wang Qishan.
"Vice President Wang was very impressed with the leadership of Bung Karno, it was said when he met with Megawati," said the Indonesian Ambassador to China, Djauhari Oratmangun who accompanied Megawati to meet Vice President Wang Qishan.
Translator: M. Irfan/Eliswan Azly
Editor: Bambang Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
