GARUDA, INDONESIAN BIRD OF PRIDE

Some time ago, among Indonesian community happened a controversy about the use of the image of Garuda on Armani T-shirt. Armani Exchange, Giorgio Armani house of design, that produced shirts like the image of Garuda Pancasila initially claimed that the image of Garuda birds attached to the shirt design is a military version of eagle.

picture taken from: www.armaniexchange.com

However, some responses appeared in the middle of Indonesian society. Some Indonesian was proud but many disappointed with the design. The figure of Garuda in the spotlight shirts created a long debate among Internet users in Indonesia and spread in the online forums, blogs, social networking like Facebook and Twitter, though Armani eventually apologized for the design.

picture by: www.embbasyof indonesia.org

Garuda in Indonesian society is identical to the emblem of the Republic of Indonesia, which must be respected and should not be haphazardly decorated on t-shirts and other materials for the use of the picture is regulated by Government Regulation No. 43/1958 and updated by Law Number 24 Year 2009 about the national flag, language, coat of arms and anthem.

Garuda in Indonesia is generally known as an emblem of Garuda Pancasila, firstly drafted by Sultan Hamid II, and later perfected by the First President of the Republic of Indonesia, Sukarno. In fact, Garuda is the bird in Hindu mythology, which in fact has rarely been found in Indonesia. Although Garuda is almost a fantasy bird, its picture is very important to Indonesian people.