Southeast Asia Press Hails Obama

By WAI MOE

The Southeast Asia press waxed hopeful and eloquent in the wake of US-president elect Barrack Obama’s landslide victory, which was seen as a historic moment touching the imagination of people around the world.

In Bangkok, The Nation newspaper said on Thursday that Obama’s victory signals a transformation within the US government and its people, citing one of Obama's most important tasks as the restoration of America’s image on the global stage.

“If real change comes to America, it will have an effect that will change the rest of world,” The Nation said. “Such is the wonder of American power and its influence.”

In Indonesia, once Obama childhood home, The Jakarta Post published a report titled “Jakarta Celebrates the Menteng Kid’s Victory” on Thursday.

“Jakarta shared the anxiety and the joy of the US presidential election won by new Indonesian darling Barack Hussein Obama on Wednesday,” said the report.

The story noted a celebration at Obama’s former school in central Jarkarta where students gathered to watch the US election results and pictures of Obama, taken during his school days, were displayed.

“A 15-minute silence has been held here every day since Monday to allow the students to pray for Obama’s victory,” the report said.

In reclusive Burma, the state-run- newspaper, Myanma Alin, reported on Obama’s victory in a news story headlined, “Obama Wins US Presidential Election; Democrats will influence the White House and Congress”.

The Philippine Star, in an editorial, said Obama’s victory was proof that Americans were as tired as much as the rest of the world in the confrontational stance of President George W. Bush’s administration.

The editorial pointed out two challenges that Obama faces in the opening days of his presidency, the war on terrorism and the financial meltdown.

“The Democrats’ victory celebrations will be tempered by the reality that Obama is inheriting a country in crisis,” it said.

The Bangkok Post’s editorial on Thursday, “The Dream Is Still Alive,” said, “Many people in the US and around the world are looking at the election of a black president as proof that the American dream is still alive.”

The Bangkok Post predicted that the US will no longer go it alone in its foreign policy and no longer shirk its responsibility when it comes to climate change.