Public demands resignation of railway officials

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