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Schoolboy Obama statue criticized
Source: Agencies |
December 16, 2009, Wednesday
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A FACEBOOK group is campaigning for the removal of a recently erected statue of United States President Barack Obama as a boy in a Jakarta park.
The 1.1-meter statue of a 10-year-old Obama was unveiled on Thursday but by Tuesday a Facebook group named "Take Down the Barack Obama Statue in Taman Menteng Park" had attracted more than 10,000 members by yesterday.
Heru Nugroho, the group's creator, said he would use the support on the Website to demand Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo remove the statue.
"Obama is a world leader, but he is not our national hero who deserves to be awarded a statue," Nugroho said.
"This has hurt our national pride because there are many Indonesian figures who gave worthy service to this nation but no statue has been built for them."
Many Indonesians are proud of the fact that Obama lived in Jakarta from 1967 to 1971 with his American mother, his Indonesian stepfather and his half-sister.
He went by the name "Barry," attended the local elementary school near where his statue now stands and owned a pet monkey.
Ron Mullers, a Jakarta resident who started the statue project, said it was supposed to inspire local children to follow their dreams.
The 1.1-meter statue of a 10-year-old Obama was unveiled on Thursday but by Tuesday a Facebook group named "Take Down the Barack Obama Statue in Taman Menteng Park" had attracted more than 10,000 members by yesterday.
Heru Nugroho, the group's creator, said he would use the support on the Website to demand Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo remove the statue.
"Obama is a world leader, but he is not our national hero who deserves to be awarded a statue," Nugroho said.
"This has hurt our national pride because there are many Indonesian figures who gave worthy service to this nation but no statue has been built for them."
Many Indonesians are proud of the fact that Obama lived in Jakarta from 1967 to 1971 with his American mother, his Indonesian stepfather and his half-sister.
He went by the name "Barry," attended the local elementary school near where his statue now stands and owned a pet monkey.
Ron Mullers, a Jakarta resident who started the statue project, said it was supposed to inspire local children to follow their dreams.
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