U.S. wants stronger wall to protect embassy<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso has rejected a personally delivered
\nrequest from U.S. Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce for permission to
\nbuild a new security fence at the embassy, saying the design was
\nillegal and would set a bad precedent.<\/p>\n
However, council bylaws do allow discretion and the precedent
\nalready exists, with the U.S. Embassy fences on Jl. Medan Merdeka
\nSelatan in Central Jakarta already well above the two-meter
\nmaximum.<\/p>\n
Boyce visited Sutiyoso on Monday to seek permission to
\nstrengthen security at the embassy and the ambassador's and
\ndeputy ambassador's residences on Jl. Taman Suropati, Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
City Planning and Supervision of Buildings (P2B) Agency head
\nDjumhana said the Americans wanted to build a three-meter high
\nfence -- comprising a 2.5-meter-tall solid wall topped with 0.5-
\nmeters of see-through bars -- to protect the embassy and the
\nresidences.<\/p>\n
Djumhana said the demand was rejected by Sutiyoso as it
\nbreached City Bylaw No. 7\/1991 on Fences for Residences and
\nOffices.<\/p>\n
Under the bylaw, office fences should not exceed two meters:
\none meter of solid wall and another meter of bars or chain mail.
\nFences for residences should be not higher than 1.5 meters: one
\nmeter of solid wall and 0.5 meter of iron bars or chain mail.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso confirmed the request from Ambassador Boyce, but said
\nhe could not fulfill the request as it would set a bad precedent.<\/p>\n
"If I allow the request, other ambassadors would ask for the
\nsame things," Sutiyoso told the press on Monday.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said that Ambassador Boyce told him the request to
\nstrengthen the embassy's fence came from Washington and it was
\nnot only for the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, but also in other
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Currently, the Embassy is protected by a three-meter high
\niron-bar fence.<\/p>\n
Djumhana said though the existing fence breached the bylaw,
\nthe law allowed the governor to give special treatment in certain
\ncircumstances.<\/p>\n
Djumhana said the governor gave Boyce two alternatives. First,
\nthe embassy could build a one-meter wall, topped with two meters
\nof see-through protective material. The new fence could replace
\nthe current fence.<\/p>\n
The Second alternative was that the embassy could build a 2.5-
\nmeter solid wall topped with 50 centimeters of see-through
\nmaterial, but the location should be five-metres from the
\nexisting fence, inside the embassy compound.<\/p>\n
Djumhana said that before the fence was constructed, there
\nshould be consultation between the embassy's architect and city
\nadministration officials.<\/p>\n
Fearing terrorist attacks, the U.S. Embassy had earlier urged
\nJakarta Police to clear half of Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan of
\nparked cars. This followed a successful U.S. request to move the
\nU-turn from in front of the embassy to in front of City Hall.<\/p>\n
City Hall and the embassy are separated by the Vice
\nPresidential palace.<\/p>\n
Last year, the British Embassy managed to have a section of
\nJl. Muhammad Yamin in Central Jakarta, where it is located,
\nclosed after it received a bomb threat.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-wants-stronger-wall-to-protect-embassy-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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