Rp 300m donated to speed up troubled statue project<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): Two cabinet ministers and a businessman donated
\nyesterday Rp 300 million (US$88,571) in fresh aid to speed up the
\nconstruction of a 140-meter monument whose total worth is Rp 200
\nbillion.<\/p>\n
The donations for the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue were made
\nfollowing an incident in which the 12-meter-tall head of the God
\nWisnu caught fire at the studio of its architect, Nyoman Nuarta,
\nhere on Oct. 14. The statue was supposed to be shipped in
\nsegments to Bali, where the project is located.<\/p>\n
Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave gave
\nRp 100 million collected from various sources, and Minister of
\nMines and Energy Ida Bagus Sudjana donated another Rp 100
\nmillion. Another Rp 100 million was given by Bunyanto, the owner
\nPT Sumber Megah Indah, while state-owned PT Krakatau Steel
\ncompany donated Rp 10 million.<\/p>\n
\"I have reported the fire to President Soeharto, who said he
\nwas concerned and wanted the project to continue,\" said Joop Ave.<\/p>\n
Sudjana, who is the chief patron for the project, said the
\ncurrent monetary crisis should not affect the project, as it was
\na national tourism project of \"international caliber\".<\/p>\n
He added, however, the fire might cause a six month delay in
\nthe project's completion, scheduled for 2000. \"That incident has
\ncaused a time and financial loss,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The estimated financial loss was Rp 400 million.<\/p>\n
The Garuda Wisnu Kencana monument, being built on a 174-
\nhectare plot on top of Ungasan Lime hill, 12 kilometers south of
\nDenpasar, Bali, has been dubbed as the future \"landmark of
\nIndonesian tourism\".<\/p>\n
Nuarta has promised the monument would be this century's
\ngreatest and that it would be on par with world wonders like
\nBorobudur Temple, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Statue of
\nLiberty.<\/p>\n
When the idea was made public in the early 1990s, the project
\nmet strong opposition from many Balinese. Local intellectuals and
\nentrepreneurs voiced concern over the impact it would have on
\nlocal culture and small-scale craftsmen.<\/p>\n
Amazed by the huge cost, critics have said the monument was a
\nmisplaced priority in the government's development program. After
\nthe debate died down, the government and Nuarta went ahead with
\nthe plan.<\/p>\n
I Gede Putu Ary Suta, the chairman of the Capital Market
\nSupervisory Agency, said fresh funds could be raised from the
\nstock market. (43\/swe)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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