Obama statue back in view in Indonesia

February 22, 2010|Associated Press

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.

The likeness of a 10-year-old Obama smiling at a butterfly perched on an outstretched thumb was returned to its pedestal at 11:30 p.m.

The late night schedule was aimed at finishing before almost 500 pupils arrive for school today, not an attempt to keep a low profile, said the main fund-raiser for the statue, American Ron Mullers.

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.

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.