 The deadly train collision in Shangdong Province has triggered a series of government actions. The initial investigation suggests that the accident was caused by human error and just hours after the tragedy two top officials at the Jinan Railway Bureau were dismissed. The findings have prompted a flood of media discussions concerning railway safety and management.
Now let's take a look at what the media have to say.
Reporter:
A writer from the Beijing Youth Daily expresses that although the railway bureaus in China have contributed much to social development, many of the problems are due to a lack of safety supervision. Reforms to the railway bureaus are far from enough. The management system needs to be transformed and its efficiency needs to be improved. The railway bureaus have yet to separate their government administrative function from business management. Apart from that, the management sector also has many problems. All these points need to be addressed by the railway bureaus in the upcoming stages of reform.
The Beijing News reports that retrospection and confessions from railway management bureau staff and officials are far from enough. Railway supervision and management need to be more transparent and open. The public need to have a role in supervision and decision making. For example, the standing committee of the National People's Congress should take part in the inquiry process into the entire safety issue. Outside supervision will more effectively put pressure on the participants and guide the process of reform.
A writer with the South Morning News used three points to state his opinion. He thinks the investigation needs to be supervised by a third party to ensure an unbiased conclusion. Only a totally independent third party could objectively provide accurate reports and findings. Second, he questions whether this tragic lesson will be able to help form a system for assigning responsibility. The bureau leaders should take the initiative to voluntarily apologize and resign. Mature systems are already in place in other countries, but not in China. The third point is that the government should reconsider the status and function of the Ministry of Railways and should supervise and urge the ministry to enact reforms at a deeper level.
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