Public demands resignation of railway officials

Kurniawan Hari and Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Three separate train accidents occurred on Christmas Day, killing at least 61 people.

Dozens of rail disasters have occurred in the past few months and politicians and passengers put that down to mismanagement by the top train officials. Many are demanding that the top executives of state railway company PT KAI quit and Minister of Transportation Agum Gumelar be dismissed from his post.

Legal groups even said that the public has enough evidence to charge those responsible with criminal negligence and try them in a court of law.

"All members of the management and any other decision-makers (with PT KAI) must quit their posts and be brought to court," Rosyid Hidayat, a member of the House Commission IV, which oversees transportation affairs, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, a speeding train slammed into a stationary train in Brebes, Central Java, killing over 50 people and injuring dozens of holiday travelers.

Also on Tuesday, two other train accidents took place in the East Javanese cities of Jember and Blitar, claiming three lives.

Rosyid said the Brebes accident was a case of pure carelessness on the part of railway staff. He did not elaborate.

Fellow legislator Soemaryoto, who chairs House Commission IV, said that legislators have often warned the government of an increase in train accidents.

"We have repeatedly told the government to restructure the management of PT KAI, but our demands have been ignored. Now we see train accidents taking place over and over," he said.

According to Soemaryoto, PT KAI board of directors, the minister of transportation as well as State Minister for State- Owned Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi must be held accountable for the frequent train accidents.

In its attempt to solve the problems in the railway company, the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) has urged the firm to improve transparency.

Indah Suksmaningsih, chairwoman of the consumers foundation, said that the spate of railway accidents are particularly caused by the unwillingness of the state company to do any sort of internal restructuring.

"I am nearly at a loss for words. The government does not have the determination to deal with the management of the railway company, mainly because it is the economy class trains and passengers that are affected," Indah was quoted by Antara as saying.

Fellow activist Retno Widiastuti said the government could be held accountable for those accidents because it failed to provide more funds to the railway company to improve its infrastructure.

Earlier, former director general of land transportation Santo Budiono said that the increasing number of train accidents was due, in part, to the absence of several railway signs and devices which automatically trigger safety mechanisms.

"Many devices get stolen or damaged and we have no money to purchase new ones," Santo said after his resignation in May last year following the Serpong train accident.

Commenting on possible legal charges being brought against those responsible, Indah said YLKI had been frustrated due to difficulties involved in reviewing internal reports to find concrete evidence.

"The evidence is kept secret by the railway company and there is no transparent audit system," she said.

Major train accidents in 2000-2001

Date Train Type Accident Site # killed

1. Apr.18 Cargo train Collision Karawang, West Java 4

Executive train 2. May 1 Economy trains Collision Serpong, Banten 4 3. Jul.2 Cargo train Derailed Padang, W. Sumatra 19 4. Aug.18 Cargo train Collision North Jakarta 3

Electric train 5. Sep.10 Cargo train Collision Krengseng, W. Java 16

Economy train 6. Apr.13 Coal trains Collision Muara Enim, S. Sumatra 1 7. Jun.4 Executive Train Hit a van Cirebon, West Java 1 8. Jul.15 Coal train Hit a bus Prabumulih, S. Sumatra 7 9. Aug.1 Economy train Hit a truck Tegal, C. Java 13 10.Sep.2 Economy trains Collision Cirebon, West Java 41 11.Oct.25 Economy train Collision Rangkasbitung, Banten 3

Cargo train 12.Dec.25 Economy trains Collision Brebes, C. Java 55 13.Dec.25 Economy train Hit a van Blitar, East Java 3

Total: 170

Source: The Jakarta Post