Plans for 'Hermes' replicas opposed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Deputy Governor for Social Welfare Djailani has
\nopposed plans for replicas of the Greek god Hermes statue and
\nconstruction of a statue of national hero Gen. Sudirman.<\/p>\n
He said the plan to make replicas of the bronze Hermes would
\neliminate the value of the statue, which has been on a bridge
\nnear the presidential palace in Central Jakarta for decades.<\/p>\n
\"Why don't we let the original statue stand in its original
\nplace. Don't be afraid that it might be stolen,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The plan for the replicas was proposed by City secretary Fauzi
\nBowo, who said the measure would protect the statue from theft or
\ndestruction.<\/p>\n
\"We are afraid the statue will suffer more damage or be stolen
\nif we put it back in its original place.<\/p>\n
\"We have also decided to make two replicas, as originally
\nthere were twin statues on Harmoni bridge,\" he said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The city park agency will supervise construction of two
\nreplicas of the two-meter Hermes statue, at a cost estimated at
\nRp 600 million (US$75,00) each.<\/p>\n
\"But, we won't burden the city administration with all the
\ncosts. We'll invite businesspeople to get involved in the
\nproject,\" Fauzi said.<\/p>\n
The city administration, however, has yet to determine the
\nbudget for construction of the replicas.<\/p>\n
\"We haven't decided on the materials for the replicas. That's
\nwhy we are still unable to estimate their cost,\" Fauzi said.<\/p>\n
He said Governor Sutiyoso had instructed city museum and
\nrestoration agency officials to study the history of the statue.<\/p>\n
The Hermes statue, which depicts Hermes with one of his hands
\nin the air and the other on his waist, was the subject of intense
\npublic interest after it was reported missing on Aug. 20.<\/p>\n
Three days after the report, however, the public works agency
\nclaimed to have saved the statue from falling into the Ciliwung
\nriver, which passes under the Harmoni bridge. The agency then
\nreturned the statue to the city parks agency.<\/p>\n
The remaining original statue is currently housed in the
\nJakarta History Museum in West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
On the agency's plan to build the Gen. Sudirman statue, which
\nwill be located at the intersection of Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH.
\nThamrin in Central Jakarta, Djailani said it was not an urgent
\nplan because the city administration had no money to finance the
\nproject.<\/p>\n
\"I think we do not have money for construction of the Gen.
\nSudirman statue,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The planned construction of the statue was in line with a
\nbeautification project of parks in green zones along Jl.
\nSudirman, currently conducted by the agency.<\/p>\n
The proposal was also revealed on Tuesday by Fauzi, who said
\nthat the city administration had approved the city park agency's
\nplan to build a Rp 2.7 billion (US$337,500) statue of the
\nnational hero.<\/p>\n
Funds for construction of the seven-meter bronze statue would
\nbe covered by the 2000\/2001 city budget, Fauzi said.<\/p>\n
A sculptor from the Bandung Institute of Technology has
\nreportedly been appointed for construction of the Gen. Sudirman
\nstatue as well as the Hermes replicas. (jun\/ind)<\/p>",
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