Residents file suit against city over statue

JAKARTA: A group of residents filed a class action against the erection of the Obama statue with the Central Jakarta District Court on Friday.

The group's coordinator, Heru Nugroho, said the move came after failed talks with the administration, which refuses to remove the statue from Menteng Park, Central Jakarta.

"This is the wish of 55,000 Facebook users who oppose the statue," he was quoted as saying by tempointeraktif.com.

The lawsuit on Friday was filed against Governor Fauzi Bowo, Central Jakarta Mayor Sylviana Murni and the city's Parks and Cemetery Agency.

The court has scheduled the first session of the trial for next Monday. - JP