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