Related: Slow Saturday Special: Indonesians Pulling Down Barry Obama
"Obama statue back in view in Indonesia" by Associated Press | February 22, 2010
JAKARTA, Indonesia - A statue of President Obama as a boy was placed late last night at the Jakarta elementary school the US president once attended, after its display in a public park prompted backlash in the Indonesia capital.
The replacement of the bronze statue a week after it disappeared from public view was a low-key event officiated by the school’s principal and three local education officials....
Detractors had argued that an Indonesia hero should be honored instead. A Facebook campaign attracted more than 50,000 supporters of the statue’s removal, and court action was initiated to force it.
American Ron Mullers accused them of politicizing a statue meant to inspire Indonesian children to follow their dreams. “This is a statue of boy named Little Barry who went to this school; it’s not President Obama,’’ he said.
Opponents had mixed feelings about the statue’s new position at Menteng 1 Elementary School, where it remains clearly visible from the street through a front gate.
Yenni Rosa Damayanti, who was involved in the court action, said she was satisfied that the statue was no longer in a public park. “We should not erect statues of other countries’ presidents in public parks when so many of Indonesia’s heroes are not immortalized,’’ she said.--more--"
This is the most important thing happening in Indonesia, 'eh, Glob?
Oh, I forgot, you have an agenda to push and a specific audience to cater to -- and it's not me or you, average Indonesian.
