U.S. Embassy wall

American Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce has asked the governor of Jakarta to make an exception, to enable the U.S. Embassy to erect a three-meter high solid wall in front of its premises (The Jakarta Post, July 9, U.S. Embassy and its wall).

As a Jakarta resident for my entire adult life, I felt somewhat distressed to hear this outrageous request. Moreover, despite the ambassador's persuasive tone the letter is unconvincing and, at the same time, ignores the principle of diplomatic relations as set out in the Vienna Convention.

Should any other arrangement be made by and between the two countries involved, then it must revert to the established principle of reciprocity.

As a matter of principle, and on the basis of the foregoing, the outright rejection by the city administration of the U.S. Embassy's plans to erect a three-meter high solid wall at any point on the premises is quite correct and should not become an issue between two friendly nations. Regrettably, I do not believe that construction of such a huge wall will remedy the existing eyesore of a concrete traffic barrier and barbed wire in front of the chancery. Neither will it enhance the "beautiful state of the symbolic area."

I wonder if Ambassador Boyce would support the idea if the Indonesian Embassy requested an exception, to erect a huge three- meter high solid wall in the heart of Embassy Row, Washington DC. No doubt the State Department and mayor of Washington would reject any such proposal.

It would also become evident to the governor of Jakarta, once an exception were granted to a particular embassy, that he could expect similar requests for exceptions to be made from other diplomatic missions on the basis of nondiscrimination.

In short, please give the citizens of Jakarta a break. Make them feel a bit happy now, after so many sad things have happened in this unfortunate city.

SAMSUBAHRI SIREGAR, Jakarta