Many Foreign Ministers Resigned After A Deadly Accident, Unfortunately It's Not Our Culture

Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly (Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - In several countries, many ministers have resigned after a fatal accident. Recently, it was Taiwan's Minister of Transportation who decided to resign after the deadly Taroko Express train accident. However, if you look at it in our own country, something like this is a necessity. Because resigning from office for failing to serve is not our culture.

The day after the Taroko Express train derailed in Hualien, Taiwan, on April 2, Taiwan's Minister of Transport and Communications Lin Chia-lung unceremoniously presented him with a letter of resignation. Indeed, the incident that killed at least 49 people and injured 244 was the worst in Taiwan.

Lin's resignation was rejected by Taiwan's Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang. The reason is that the Taiwanese cabinet leader wants Lin to focus on restoring Taiwan's rail services first. Lin agreed. He also vowed to be politically responsible for the deadly accident.

A train accident in Taiwan. (Twitter/@Meharahmedkhan)

Lin and Su agreed that reform of the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) was necessary, while addressing safety and labor concerns. A few days later, on April 15, Lin's resignation was accepted.

"Before I leave, I will ensure that normal and safe operations will resume in Hualien. And the ministry will implement mechanisms to coordinate and care for the families of the victims," Lin was quoted as saying by the Taipei Times.

One year earlier or more precisely on May 8, 2020, the resignation of high-ranking state officials also took place in Croatia. The country's defense minister, Damir Krsticevic, resigned after an air force plane crashed in southwestern Croatia. The incident killed two crew members.

In his resignation, Krsticevic said "we have to be transparent and take responsibility for the accident." "I am resigning today from the roles of Vice President and Minister of Defense of Croatia. Thank you," he was quoted as saying by VOA News.

Three months later on 9 August it was the turn of the Lebanese Information Minister, Manal Abdul Samad, who resigned from his post. The 45-year-old became the first Lebanese minister to resign following the tragedy in the Beirut port that killed more than 150 people and injured 6,000 others.

"After the great Beirut disaster, I announce my resignation from the government," Manal said. He also announced his apology to the Lebanese public for letting them down.

The three ministers resigned after experiencing a fatal incident that took their lives. Their spirit is the same: they feel they have failed their people, especially those directly affected by the deadly accident. However, this kind of action is difficult -- if not impossible -- to find in our country.

Not our culture

A political observer from Indonesia's Al-Azhar University, Ujang Komarudin, said that the outside ministers who resigned were none other than feeling ashamed. If they feel they have failed in their duties, said Ujang, then they do not hesitate to resign.

"Ministers of foreign affairs, if they fail to serve, then he feels ashamed. Then resign from his position," he told VOI.

Meanwhile in Indonesia, such a backward culture is a necessity. "We don't have a backward culture. That's not our culture. That's why we don't move forward," said Ujang.

If you look at the past, most of the ministers who resign from their positions are due to corruption cases. Examples we can easily mention.

Shortly after one year of Joko Widodo's reign, on November 25, 2020, former Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo resigned from his post after being arrested by the KPK. The Gerindra politician was arrested after spending bribes during his visit to the United States.

Nine days later, it was the turn of the PDIP minister who was forced to resign from his ministerial position. Former Minister of Social Affairs Juliari Batubara resigned from the ministerial chair after being named a suspect in the corruption case of the COVID-19 social assistance fund.

Even according to the Executive Director of the Indonesian Political Review, Ujang Komarudin, after being arrested by the KPK, he still considered himself innocent. "Our officials do not have a culture of shame. Even the KPK has arrested him, he still considers himself innocent."

Let alone retreat because of a fatal accident. When they steal people's money, the high-ranking officials of our country who stumble over cases are still thick-skinned.

Worth going back

Yesterday, September 8, Indonesia was hit with sad news. Fire in Tangerang prison kills 44 people. The Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) considered that in this incident the state must be held accountable. Because this is not an ordinary incident but a problem concerning human rights (HAM).

"The state or government must be held accountable for the fire incident that occurred in Tangerang prison. Moreover, the incident killed 44 people," said LPSK Deputy Chair Maneger Nasution Thursday, September 9.

Tangerang Prison (Source: ANTARA)

The manager said the government must ensure that all rights of victims and their families are fulfilled. In addition, the inmates in the prison who suffered injuries must also be treated properly.

According to Maneger, this fire also shows the reality where detainees and inmates are often placed in detention houses and crowded prisons that are not friendly to health. "It even threatens the safety of their lives."

For this reason, the Minister asked the state to be present to fulfill the right of every detainee and inmates to be treated humanely. "So that detention centers and prisons must provide adequate layout, lighting, air, and ventilation."

We all agree that the Tangerang Class I prison fire incident, which claimed dozens of lives, is a big problem. Prison governance is also in the spotlight due to this accident. And according to Political Observer Ujang Komarudin, if shame is our culture, it is not impossible that high-ranking officials of our country who fail to serve will resign.

"You should resign if you have shame. But there's no one who backs down. Because they think there's nothing wrong. Even though it's a big mistake," concluded Ujang.

*Read other information about ACCIDENTS or read other interesting articles from Ramdan Febrian Arifin.

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