THE precursor to the Non-Aligned Movement, the 1955 Asian-African Conference in Bandung, West Java, brought together the leaders of 29 states, mostly former colonies, from the two continents of Asia and Africa. Convened upon the invitation of the prime ministers of Burma, Ceylon, India, Indonesia and Pakistan, the summit was to discuss common concerns and to develop joint policies in international relations.

The acknowledged senior statesman, Prim