On Thursday I went with a couple of AI staffers to visit Michael Tene, First Secretary at the Indonesian Embassy.  Isn't this a beautiful building?  It had been a private home at the turn of the century -- of Evalyn Walsh McLean, born in Leadville, Colo. (photo above).  She was the last owner of the Hope Diamond.  I found the middle image on Google, and don't know who those people are, but you can see how ornate the grand staircase is.

So, I began our visit as a tourist, just happy to see the space.  They had a beautiful ornate mask/costume from Bali and all kinds of dark carved wood furniture.  Then we met the First Secretary, Michael Tene.  We went up the staircase to a pretty room with a long conference table.  I was with a young AI staffer, Laura, who just got into law school so she'll be leaving soon to continue her studies.  AI's Washington office legislative guy, Kumar, was the leader of the group -- he goes all over Capital Hill talking with legislators, embassy people, etc.  He definitely had a gift for this kind of talking.  Michael was very pleasant, didn't say anything too unexpected, but indicated that the people of Indonesia don't sympathize with our prisoners, feel they are wrong to be protesting the way they do, and therefore there isn't any kind of pressure on the government to change its stance.  That was something I didn't know...but it may or may not be true.  The meeting was very businesslike -- we sat down at the table and he knew our point, and we knew his, but it was still interesting to have the discussion...very civil.