Government to allows embassies to fortify walls

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The city is expected to give its approval soon on the construction of three-meter-high concrete walls at several embassies amid security concerns following the Sept. 9 bomb attack outside the Australian Embassy in South Jakarta.

However, Governor Sutiyoso said once the construction of the walls was finished, the U.S. and British embassies would be required remove concrete barricades they had placed outside on the roads so they would not hinder traffic.

"When the walls are already built, they (the embassies) won't need to use the roads," he said.

The two embassies closed off the roads in front of their compounds to ensure greater security after the attack. Both have put up barriers blocking one lane of Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan and Jl. M.H. Thamrin.

Sutiyoso said his decision allowing the embassies to construct the walls, which contravenes local Bylaw No. 7/1991 on city buildings, was driven by security concerns. The bylaw stipulates all inner-city buildings' outer walls must have a maximum height of two meters and the upper part of the wall must be made from transparent material.

He said the walls were designed to protect the buildings from bomb attacks.

"The design of the walls is also made to cope with the kind of bombing attacks that have occurred in Palestine and other middle eastern countries," he said.

"By having these walls, terrorists will no longer be able to use car-bombs in their attacks. Terrorist intruders can sneak into the complex, but they won't be able to carry much explosives."

Sutiyoso said he expected the U.S., Australian, and British embassies would show him designs of the walls shortly.

The concrete walls would not be permanent, he said. "If we think the situation has become safer, then they have to uproot the walls," he said.

Last week, outgoing U.S. Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, British Ambassador Charles Humphrey and Australian Ambassador David Ritchie met Sutiyoso at the governor's residence in Menteng, Central Jakarta. During the meeting, they asked for higher and stronger walls.

Jakarta Construction Supervision and Regulation Agency head Djumhana Tjakrawirja said the city would immediately issue a special gubernatorial decree allowing for the construction of the walls at the three embassies. The decree overrules the bylaw.