Dozens of old friends of the newly- elected U.S. President Barack Obama in Indonesia will hold a party at their elementary school where they studied with Obama, a school teacher said here Tuesday.
Barack Obama spent his childhood in Indonesia and studied at SDN Menteng 01 in Jakarta from 1969 to 1971 as her mother Ann Dunham married to a Javanese Sutoro.
More than 30 of Obama's classmates and the school teachers will hold the party on Wednesday at school, said Ahmad Solihin, a vice principle of the school.
The U.S. ambassador to Indonesia Cameron R. Hume and a number of foreign attaches would be present at the party, he said.
During the event, there would be cultural performances, said Solihin.
"We will perform traditional music, sing traditional songs and the national anthems of the two countries as well as having some nice food," Solihin said.
In addition, another celebration would also be held in Ritz Calton Hotel in the Indonesian capital on Tuesday evening.
Obama planned to send a special message to Indonesians during his inauguration ceremony on Jan. 20, the committee for his inaugural celebration was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying.
Maya Soetoro, Obama's Indonesian half-sister, confirmed that she will send her greetings from Washington.
The school teachers and U.S. Democratic Party arm in Indonesia will also conduct an inaugural celebration in J.W. Marrriot Hotel in Jakarta, said Solihin.
(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2009)
