Introduction

VECONAC is a Confederation of Veterans in South East Asia established on 19 December 1980 in Jakarta based on the Manifesto of Veterans Confederation of ASEAN Countries. The document was signed by the Heads of Delegations from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

History Of Establishment

During the fourth Congress of LVRI on 19 December 1978, the representatives from ASEAN organizations of veterans, agreed to establish a federation among veterans organizations in ASEAN Countries. The aims of the organization are:

• To promote cooperation among veterans organizations in ASEAN Countries to further increase the prosperity of its members in the field of socio economy as well as status.
• To enhance solidarity among ASEAN organizations of veterans.
   

An Ad-hoc Committee of five representatives of ASEAN was set up to prepare:

• The constitution of ASEAN Federation of Veterans.
• The name of ASEAN Federation of Veterans.
• The opening ceremony and the first General Assembly of the Veterans federation of ASEAN to be held in Jakarta.
• The date, venue and the number of delegates from each veterans organization to be invited.
   

The first ad-hoc meeting held in Manila in July 1980 decided to establish a regional veterans organization of ASEAN based on the following:

• The organization should be a supporting organization for the achievement of ASEAN objectives contained in the Bangkok Declaration and Kuala Lumpur Declaration.
• The membership is open only for veterans organizations officially endorsed by its respective country.
• LVRI was assigned to hold a meeting aimed at establishing the organization.
   

Inauguration Of Veconac
As the result of the first Ad-hoc Meeting, LVRI organized the meeting in Graha Purna Yudha (Granada) Building, Sudirman Street Kav 50 Jakarta, on 19 - 20 December 1980. The inaugural ceremony of VECONAC was attended by the Heads of Delegates from five countries and witnessed by the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr Adam Malik.

In 1985 the Ex-Servicemen and Ex-Policemen Association of Brunei Darussalam joined VECONAC, bringing the membership to six member countries.

The 21st ASEAN Standing Committee meeting in Bangkok on 20-22 October 1987 recognized VECONAC as a Non-Governmental Organization dealing with matters pertaining to veterans and with affiliation to ASEAN.

The Veterans Association of Vietnam was admitted as a regular member of VECONAC effective 1997. This was followed on 15 February 2008 when the SAF Veterans League was admitted as a regular member of VECONAC, replacing its founding organisation, the Ex-Services Association of Singapore.