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Obama family rejects Liah's claim, calls her a fraud
The drama of the upcoming inauguration of United States president-elect Barack Obama has spilled over into Jakarta, with claims of kinship and allegations of fraud
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The drama of the upcoming inauguration of United States president-elect Barack Obama has spilled over into Jakarta, with claims of kinship and allegations of fraud.
Liah Soetoro, 51, has been telling the Indonesian media for the past week that she is Barack Obama's adopted sister and she and her husband will be attending the historic inauguration on Jan. 20 in Washington DC.
"I will bring along mementos belonging to me and Barry," Liah Soetoro, who says she was adopted by Barack Obama's stepfather two years before the soon-to-be American president and his mother, Ann Dunham, moved to Jakarta in 1964.
According to Liah, she received the invitation from Luth, a close friend of Maya Soetoro.
"This Lia is definitely a fraud," Maya Soetoro-Ng, Barack Obama's younger half sister, the daughter of Lolo Soetoro and Ann Dunham, said.
"I have no idea who she is and there's no stepdaughter and no one was ever adopted into the family formally or informally that I am aware of."
Sonny Trisulo, Maya Soetoro's cousin, said Liah Soetoro was not a member of the Soetoro family.
"I don't know why people make such claims," Sonny said on SCTV television.
Sonny said that only five members of the family would attend Obama's ceremony, and Liah was not one of those people.
"I was supposed to attend the inauguration together with my father but I don't think we can make it now as he *my father* is not in good health. And so I have asked my husband and another cousin to attend it," Yana, a niece of Obama's Indonesian step-father Lolo Soetoro, said.
Indonesian entertainer Ayu Azhari will also attend the inauguration.
Obama, who was known as Barry during his five-year stay in Jakarta, moved to the Muslim-majority country in 1967 after his mother Ann Dunham married Lolo Soetoro.
He attended Fransiskus Asisi Catholic School, Central Jakarta, and state primary school SDN Menteng 01. Ann Dunham later gave birth to their daughter, Maya Soetoro.
During her testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's confirmation hearings on Jan. 13, US secretary of state-designate Hillary Rodham Clinton mentioned Ann Dunham, regarding her work creating economic opportunities for women and small businesses during her time in Indonesia.*
Meanwhile, in an open letter to his young daughters, Obama said Thursday that he entered the race for the White Houseof what I want for you and for every child in this nation."
"When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me - about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world," Obama said in the letter published in Parade magazine.
"I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation," wrote the soon-to-be Dad-in-chief.
