U.S. Embassy wall

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