Ceremony in Jakarta to Congratulate Obama’s Presidency

Wednesday, 21 January, 2009

TEMPO Interactive

A ceremony following the inauguration of the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama, was held this morning at the elementary school SDN 1 in Menteng, Jalan Besuki 4, Central Jakarta.

Obama's friends from his childhood attended the ceremony as well as US Citizens and the Mayor of Central Jakarta, Sylviana Murni.

The US Ambassador to Indonesia, Cameron Hume, said that US citizens had voted Obama as their leader in this time of crisis.

He went on to say that Obama learned his wisdom from the people of Indonesian when he lived here.

The ceremony was covered by local and international journalists.

There was a big banner showing map of Indonesia and the USA with the title of 'From Jalan Besuki to Pennsylvania, the home of Obama”.

Pictures of young Obama in Jakarta as well as when he attended his friend's birthday party, Hadi Surya, on June 2, 1971 were shown during the ceremony.

Little Obama or Bary studied at a state elementary school in Menteng in 1970.