Indonesia to move Obama statue to his old school
February 5th, 2010 - 4:54 pm ICT by IANS
Jakarta, Feb 5 (DPA) Indonesian authorities said Friday that a statue of US President Barack Obama as a boy would be moved to a Jakarta elementary school he once attended after public protests.
The bronze statue of a 10-year-old Obama was erected at a historic central Jakarta park in December, and it immediately drew criticism from Indonesians who said they believe an exemplary compatriot should receive such an honour.
More than 55,000 people joined a page on the popular social-networking website Facebook to demand the statue be removed, and some protestors have threatened to tear down the bronze.
“I agree with the aspiration voiced by several sections (of society) to move the statue to Menteng 1 Elementary School,” Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo said, referring to the school Obama attended when he lived in Indonesia as a child.
The governor said the relocation would be completed in time for Obama’s much-awaited visit to Indonesia, scheduled for March.
Obama lived in central Jakarta from 1967 to 1971 from the ages of 6 to 10 after his mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, married an Indonesian, Lolo Soetoro.
The $10,000 statue was sponsored by a group called the Friends of Obama, who said it was intended to inspire local children to follow their dreams.
- Protestors want Obama statue removed from Jakarta park - Dec 17, 2009
- Indonesia makes film on Obama's childhood - May 19, 2010
- Statue Of President Barack Obama Removed From Jakarta Park - Feb 16, 2010
- Statue of young Obama unveiled in Jakarta - Dec 10, 2009
- Barack Obama 'racially abused as boy in Indonesia' - Apr 22, 2011
- Obama's classmates in Indonesia to hold party - Jan 20, 2009
- Java blacksmith and family shocked to know they were saved by Obama's mum - Nov 08, 2009
- Obama statue removed from Jakarta park following protests - Feb 16, 2010
- Statue of Barack Obama is back, installed in a Jakarta school that he used to attend - Feb 23, 2010
- Jakarta cancels ban on Indonesia's Ahmadiyah religious group - Mar 07, 2011
- US President Obama's statue removed from a park in Jakarta - Feb 16, 2010
- President Barack Obama's Statue Set Up In His School - Feb 23, 2010
- New film 'Little Obama' documents Barack Obama's Indonesian childhood - May 22, 2010
- Obama's half-sister to move to Washington - Jul 31, 2009
- Indonesian governor indicted on corruption charges - Jan 11, 2011
Tags: aspiration, barack obama, bronze statue, central jakarta, compatriot, dpa, facebook, fauzi bowo, honour, indonesian authorities, indonesians, lolo soetoro, menteng, networking website, old school, protestors, public protests, relocation, social networking, stanley