Sutiyoso rejects U.S. wall proposal

Sutiyoso rejects U.S. wall proposal

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Governor Sutiyoso has rejected the U.S. Embassy's request to
construct massive, three-meter-high walls to replace the current
transparent walls in the embassy compound and those encircling
the residences of the U.S. ambassador and vice ambassador.

"The construction of such massive walls would violate 1991
Bylaw No.7 on Building Design," head of City Building Control and
Planning Djumhana said on Tuesday.

"Even the current three-meter transparent walls are already a
concession on the maximum height of 2.5 meters, as stipulated in
the bylaw."

Djumhana was speaking after a meeting between Sutiyoso and
U.S. assistant regional security officer Biryon Bacik.

However, the governor hinted that a high wall could be
constructed three meters behind the current transparent ones.

"The embassy should also lay out gardens and flower beds
between the two walls to improve the aesthetic appearance of the
compound.

"Gardens and flower beds would reduce the impression that the
U.S. Embassy is a fort," Djumhana said, quoting Sutiyoso.

Sutiyoso also added that once the massive walls had been built
the movable concrete barriers in front of the embassy premises on
Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan ought to be removed.

However, the embassy insisted that it would not remove the
barriers if the city administration refused to allow the
construction of a solid wall in place of the transparent one.

The barriers were erected last September after the embassy
closure that followed possible threats to the embassy, which did
not materialize.

The threats were related to the first anniversary of the Sept.
11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington D.C.

Earlier last year, U.S. Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce also sought
permission to change the transparent wall to a solid one and
build another two-meter-high transparent wall on top of that.

It was said that the request was based on a policy laid down
by Washington for all of its embassies around the world.

The city administration also rejected that first request.