'Tugu Tani' a hero statue, not farmers statue: History book<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The construction of the statue of a pair of
\nfarmers Tugu Tani which stands at the junction in Kwitang,
\nCentral Jakarta was related to Indonesia's claim of West Irian,
\nnot the communist movement in the country, a book reveals.<\/p>\n
It is said in the book, published by the City Museum and
\nRestoration Agency, that the statue which depicts a pair of
\nfarmers was originally named the Hero Statue.<\/p>\n
Anticommunist groups have threatened to destroy it, claiming
\nit represents communist ideology.<\/p>\n
The book said that first president Sukarno wanted a statue
\nthat was able to describe the country's hard-won struggle for
\nWest Irian, which was under the Dutch administration until 1963.<\/p>\n
In his visit to the Soviet Union in the late 1950s, Sukarno
\nwas impressed by statues in Moscow. He then invited Russian
\nsculptors Matvei Manizer and his son Otto Manizer to build the
\nstatue he would dedicate to Indonesia's fight for West Irian.<\/p>\n
Prior to the statue's construction, the sculptors visited
\nseveral places in Indonesia and were inspired by a story in
\nSundanese folklore. The story was about a mother who allowed her
\nson to go to war.<\/p>\n
Made of bronze, the three-meter statue stands on a four-meter
\nwall. It portrays a farmer, who holds a gun in his arm and a
\npistol in his waist, and a women who offers a meal to the man.<\/p>\n
A plank attached to the statue's base reads: \"Hanja Bangsa
\nJang Menghargai Pahlawan-Pahlawannja Jang Dapat Mendjadi Bangsa
\nJang Besar. Sukarno. (A big nation is one that respects its
\nheroes).<\/p>\n
Sukarno unveiled the statue in 1963.<\/p>\n
The statue is surrounded by a park which is currently being
\nrepaired by the city's park agency.<\/p>\n
According to the book, the statue was placed in Kwitang
\nbecause of its proximity to the marines headquarters. The marines
\nplayed a pivotal role in the fight for West Irian.<\/p>\n
It is also near the office of Gerakan Pemuda Islam (Islamic
\nYouth Movement), a member of the Anticommunist Alliance (AAK),
\nwhich threatened to destroy the statue. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tugu-tani-a-hero-statue-not-farmers-statue-history-book-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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