Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid is calling for an investigation into the accident involving the passenger ship KMP Virgo Transport 8 in the waters off South Kalimantan on Sunday September 13.
"We strongly urge an investigation to ensure that KMP Virgo Transport possessed and implemented mitigation and emergency standards in accordance with applicable regulations", he said in a written statement on Tuesday September 15.
Moreover there have been survivor testimonies revealing that no emergency alarm sounded when the ship capsized in the middle of the night while many passengers were asleep.
According to Hamid, this failure of basic safety equipment likely resulted in many passengers – particularly vulnerable groups such as women and children – becoming trapped in their cabins, unable to save themselves.
"The availability of life jackets on board should also be highlighted when survivors reported not finding life jackets nearby and also many passengers on life rafts were not wearing them. These survivor accounts provide crucial information that must follow up on by law enforcement officials", he stated.
Hamid emphasised that negligence regarding the functionality of safety equipment, including emergency alarms and the availability of life jackets, the ship's seaworthiness and weather warnings constitutes a violation of the right to safe and proper public transportation services.
This matter, he noted, is closely linked to the right to life for public transport users.
Furthermore, Hamid believes the accident highlights a disregard for the rights of vulnerable groups.
"Inter-island ferry routes are frequently relied upon by migrant workers, job seekers, to people from lower-middle-income backgrounds", he added.
"However they are often the ones most vulnerable to the fatal consequences of weak oversight regarding infrastructure and public transportation particularly maritime transport", he asserted.
Update on KM Virgo Transport 8 casualty figures
As of Monday September 14 at 10 pm West Indonesian Time, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has confirmed that 114 victims have been found out of the 243 people listed on the manifest comprising 108 survivors and 6 fatalities. Consequently, 129 people remain missing.
Of the 114 victims found so far, 86 have arrived at Trisakti Port, Banjarmasin. This group consists of 85 survivors and one deceased victim whose remains have been handed over to their family.
Another deceased victim was evacuated to Syamsudin Noor Air Force Base, Banjarbaru, and has been transferred to the National Police Headquarters' Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team for further medical examination.
One survivor arrived at Syamsudin Noor Air Force Base after being evacuated from the scene by a Basarnas helicopter and as many as 26 victims are currently being evacuated to Trisakti Port, comprising of 22 survivors and 4 deceased victims.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Amnesty International Dorong Investigasi Kecelakaan Kapal Virgo Transport 8".]
