Government to allows embassies to fortify walls<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The city is expected to give its approval soon on the
\nconstruction of three-meter-high concrete walls at several
\nembassies amid security concerns following the Sept. 9 bomb
\nattack outside the Australian Embassy in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
However, Governor Sutiyoso said once the construction of the
\nwalls was finished, the U.S. and British embassies would be
\nrequired remove concrete barricades they had placed outside on
\nthe roads so they would not hinder traffic.<\/p>\n
\"When the walls are already built, they (the embassies) won't
\nneed to use the roads,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The two embassies closed off the roads in front of their
\ncompounds to ensure greater security after the attack. Both have
\nput up barriers blocking one lane of Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan
\nand Jl. M.H. Thamrin.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said his decision allowing the embassies to construct
\nthe walls, which contravenes local Bylaw No. 7\/1991 on city
\nbuildings, was driven by security concerns. The bylaw stipulates
\nall inner-city buildings' outer walls must have a maximum height
\nof two meters and the upper part of the wall must be made from
\ntransparent material.<\/p>\n
He said the walls were designed to protect the buildings from
\nbomb attacks.<\/p>\n
\"The design of the walls is also made to cope with the kind of
\nbombing attacks that have occurred in Palestine and other middle
\neastern countries,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"By having these walls, terrorists will no longer be able to
\nuse car-bombs in their attacks. Terrorist intruders can sneak
\ninto the complex, but they won't be able to carry much
\nexplosives.\"<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said he expected the U.S., Australian, and British
\nembassies would show him designs of the walls shortly.<\/p>\n
The concrete walls would not be permanent, he said. \"If we
\nthink the situation has become safer, then they have to uproot
\nthe walls,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Last week, outgoing U.S. Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, British
\nAmbassador Charles Humphrey and Australian Ambassador David
\nRitchie met Sutiyoso at the governor's residence in Menteng,
\nCentral Jakarta. During the meeting, they asked for higher and
\nstronger walls.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Construction Supervision and Regulation Agency head
\nDjumhana Tjakrawirja said the city would immediately issue a
\nspecial gubernatorial decree allowing for the construction of the
\nwalls at the three embassies. The decree overrules the bylaw.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-to-allows-embassies-to-fortify-walls-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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