JAKARTA, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Local officials in Jakarta, Indonesia, say a statue of U.S. President Barack Obama as a child will be taken down in response to a wave of negative criticism.
Jakarta Gov. Fauzi Bowo said the statue will be removed from a public park and relocated to an elementary school that Obama attended as a child, The New York Times reported Friday.
Critics blasted the decision to erect the 43-inch bronze statue in a public park last December, claiming Obama had done nothing for Indonesia to earn such an honor.
In addition to filing a lawsuit against the city, critics also created the Facebook page "Take Down the Barack Obama Statue in Menteng Park," which garnered more than 56,000 members.
The statue was financed by Indonesian supporters of Obama and features a childhood image of Obama to reflect the U.S. leader's four years in Jakarta as a child.
The Times said the relocation is expected to take place as soon as possible given the fact Obama is set to visit Indonesia in March.
