Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Transportation labor unions are asking the government to ensure international safety standards in the transportation system to minimize future accidents.
Indonesia has seen three serious transportation accidents in the past month. The latest occurred Tuesday when an overcrowded economy-class train derailed in Banyumas, Central Java, leaving five people dead.
The Senopati Nusantara ferry sank in the waters off Central Java on Dec. 29. More than 200 people survived the accident, 42 bodies have been recovered and more than 350 others remain unaccounted for. And on Jan. 1 an Adam Air Boeing 737-400 carrying 102 people went missing near South Sulawesi.
The labor unions said the government should not wait for more deaths before overhauling the country's aging and poorly regulated transportation system.
The International Transportation Workers Federation (ITF) called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to replace State Minister for State Enterprises Sugiharto and Transportation Minister Hatta Radjasa over the spate of recent transportation accidents.
"The two ministers have not only failed to repair the out-of-date system but they have also refused to resign," ITF Indonesia executive Hanafi Rustandi said at a press conference.
He said the increasing number of accidents was related to the government policy allowing private transportation companies to operate old aircraft, ships and buses, coupled with a corrupt bureaucracy unable to uphold safety regulations.
"Indonesia has been a dumping ground for scrapped aircraft, ships, trains and buses which should have been disposed of in their countries of origin," he said.
The head of the labor union at state-owned railway company PT KA, Iwan Setyawan, slammed Transportation Minister Hatta, who has threatened to impose sanctions against those found guilty in Tuesday's train accident. Iwan said the minister was feigning ignorance of the critical problems at the train company.
"The accident had something to do with the old track built during the colonial era and the used cars donated by Japan several years ago," he alleged.
Iwan also criticized PT KA's decision to use Rp 360 billion (US$40 million) in funds allocated by the government last year to subsidize fare prices. "The money should have been used to repair old cars, or these cars should have been dumped if the money was used for other purpose," he said.
PT KA requires at least Rp 5 trillion to build double tracks on the railway networks in Java and Sumatra to improve safety.
According to data from the company, there were 217 train accidents in 2003, 170 in 2004, 160 in 2005 and 115 in 2006.
He suggested the government divest PT KA's dormant assets in big cities in Java and Sumatra to help pay for repairs and an expansion of the railway system.
Meanwhile, members of the transportation commission at the House of Representatives said during a hearing with the Indonesian Pilots Federation that it was preparing a review of the Transportation Law.
"While reviewing the law, the commission will ask the government to enforce all regulations to minimize accidents. Tough supervision from the House will be needed to ensure the law is enforced," commission member Achmad Muqowam said.