The rescue of the trapped miners in Chile has been one of the most fascinating news stories of the year. The BBC had extensive coverage (and very expensive coverage: the public broadcaster spent more than double their GBP50,000 budget) but their ratings during the rescue this week show that it was probably worth it: the public was riveted by the story. “More than eight million people viewed the BBC’s online coverage of the miners’ escape” and there was “near-record viewing figures for the BBC News channel,” according to a Guardian report.

Besides the flawless and highly emotional rescue, one thing that stood out during the episode was the government’s commitment to their trapped citizens. It is easy to be sceptical about the motives of Chile’s leaders, but often politicians can’t win: if they don’t spend time amongst the people, they are labelled as apathetic, and if they are seen too much in front of the cameras, they are called opportunists.

Here’s a comment from the Guardian‘s News blog:

“Cynics could accuse of President Pinera and mining minister Golborne of extracting every ounce of political advantage from the drama, but who could blame them. They handled the rescue in what could become a textbook of crisis management. Speaking before the Fenix 2 was sent down for the first time, Pinera said he intended to be there to welcome every one of the 33 men, and he stayed true to his word, bear-hugging each miner as they emerged. Golborne, whose approval ratings have reportedly soared to 86% since the start of the crisis, was ever-present too, his beaming smile awaiting each man.”

Below is Newsline‘s assistant editor Farieha Aziz’s take on seeing Chile’s leaders sit through the almost-24-hour rescue operation.

– Online Editor

On the other side of the screen, in Chile, I saw unity, I saw patriotism and I saw celebration. I saw a president who was there in person, overlooking the the relief efforts, waiting to greet the miners who had been trapped underground since August 5, as they were hauled up one by one.

I realise that there are differences between a single incident of this kind and a catastrophe such as the floods that hit our country. But I couldn’t help but think, Chile’s president flew back because there were 33 miners trapped underground. Here though, when the floods hit and millions were affected, our president was not pressed to return to the country immediately. Their president stood there (without any gun-toting security officials) like any other man in the crowd. And here, despite the shalwar kameez and the Sindhi topi (hat) and the squatting-down position to speak to flood affectees, I saw our president sticking out sorely from among the crowd.

I realise ours is a different culture and that without gun-toting officials, there is a great risk to the lives of our statesmen, and in turn ours (after all, it is we who bear the brunt of the stone-pelting, torching of cars and the general mayhem on the streets that ensues after the death of political big-wigs). But, just for a moment, seeing the images from the Chile mine rescue, I couldn’t help but long for the same. I couldn’t help but wish for the same kind of solidarity, patriotism and happiness I saw among the people and their head of state.

There, they had their president on the scene. Here, we cry for even the relevant person from the relevant authority to show up.

Click play below to view a video of some of BBC’s coverage of the Chilean mine rescue operation: