Different treatment of disasters

Different treatment of disasters

From Bisnis Indonesia

The different treatments of disasters keep amazing me.

The recent Sempati airplane crash resulting in 30 deaths received extensive media coverage, while the Lake Toba boat accident claiming 83 lives was scantly reported.

The Sempati accident received a great deal of sympathy from various ministers and the media, especially television. The interviews with crash survivors and the families of the victims were done with the appropriate humane touch.

The boat accident's report centered only on physical aspects, like the transportation of the bodies, giving the impression that the victims were only objects. Also mentioned was the search for the captain and crew, who were deemed responsible for the disaster. More recent news stated their capture.

What about the recent Sempati airplane crash and other airplane accidents? Why have the responsible parties not been found and questioned? Why is it always reported that airplane accidents are due to human error. Does it mean that the blame is shifted to the pilots and their colleagues?

I have my doubts (despite the black box), because eyewitnesses -- local inhabitants -- have observed that most airplane crashes are preceded by fire coming from an engine. Logically, this means the condition of the airplanes are not airworthy. The same with the condition of ships, which are not in any condition to sail.

Just compare the number of victims in boat accidents with that of airplane crash casualties. There are far more victims in boat accidents. Does the minister not know about this? Apparently no measures have been taken to solve the problems occurring over the past few years.

MRS. S. WALUYO

Cinere, West Java