‘There’s no justice’: A decade after MH17 downing, victims’ families still seek closure
The downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 took place just four months after the unsolved disappearance of MH370 in March 2014.
Victims of the 2014 MH17 downing, Captain Eugene Choo (L) and stewardess Mastura Mustafa.
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KUALA LUMPUR / VIJFHUIZEN, Netherlands: For pilot Melvic Choo, his choice of profession is a bittersweet one.
His father, Captain Eugene Choo, was flying Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down over eastern Ukraine.
All 283 passengers and 15 crew died in the crash.
The younger Mr Choo was just 13 when the tragedy struck on Jul 17, 2014.
While he is now living his childhood dream of being a commercial pilot, he almost abandoned it after the loss of his father.
Today, a decade later, he and his mother Ivy Loy, a former air stewardess, are still seeking justice and closure. Many other victims' families feel the same.
“You feel like there’s no justice for your family … you feel like you are being left out, kept in the dark,” he added.
MH17 HIT BY MISSILE
The downing of MH17 took place just four months after the unsolved disappearance of another Malaysian Airlines flight, MH370, in March 2014.
MH17 was flying over rebel-controlled eastern Ukraine when it was shot down by a surface-to-air missile.
After a painstaking international investigation spanning years, prosecutors charged three Russians and a Ukrainian with multiple counts of murder for their alleged involvement in shooting down the Boeing 777.
A joint investigation team found that the plane was hit by a Buk missile system which had been trucked into Ukraine from a Russian military base.
Russia denies any involvement in the downing, though the probe found “strong indications” that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the missile supply.
While three of the four suspects were found guilty by a Dutch court and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2022, none are likely to serve their sentences as the convictions were handed down in absentia.
Madam Munirah Mustafa, the sister of MH17 air stewardess Mastura Mustafa, told CNA: “What is our government doing? As next of kin, we can only read (about the judgement). What action can we take? Who is going to hear our pleas?
“We can’t do anything.”
Mdm Munirah said she has been waiting for updates from the Malaysian government, but the foreign and transport ministers have declined to comment.
Hearings at the European Court of Human Rights are still ongoing regarding the culpability of the Russian government. The Malaysian government has said that it will await the details from international courts.
Former defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein, who was acting transport minister at the time of the incident, said the government’s silence is understandable.
“I am realistic (about) who we are dealing with,” he added.
“They are at war with half of Europe, and the other half of Europe cannot control them. You want us to control Russia over one plane?”
Russia invaded Ukraine more than two years ago, with the war having no end in sight.
MEMORIAL SERVICE TO BE HELD
On Wednesday (Jul 17), a memorial service will be held at a park near Schiphol Airport close to the Dutch capital of Amsterdam.
There are 298 trees planted there, each representing one victim of the downing, as well as sunflowers that were inspired by the flowers that grew at the crash scene.
A majority of victims - 196 - were Dutch nationals. The others were citizens of several other nations including Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Families of the victims will attend the memorial service along with ministers from Australia, Ukraine and Belgium. These countries were part of the joint investigation team.
The Netherlands’ newly-elected Prime Minister Dick Schoof will deliver a speech, while King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima will grace the events to offer prayers and lend their support to the families.
Several next-of-kin of the Dutch victims have expressed worry that they will not see justice in their lifetimes due to their old age.
THIS WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN, SAYS DUTCH PROSECUTOR
But on Monday, head of the joint investigation team and former chief public prosecutor Digna van Boetzelaer urged all sides not to be discouraged, adding that the Dutch justice system was in no hurry and that justice will prevail.
“What I'm sure of is that this will not be forgotten. And it's not only me - it's in the institute, it's in our DNA, and there will always be somebody who will continue to give it attention,” she told reporters.
“And we also said that whenever there will be somebody in Russia who's willing to give us the last pieces of evidence, we will be ready to go on.”
She added that they are investigating other individuals, like the crew who transported the BUK missile launcher, but evidence is not conclusive and they are unable to prosecute without putting peoples' lives in danger.
As for the suspects that were convicted and sentenced in absentia, Ms van Boetzelaer said that they are believed to be in Russia which will not extradite them.
An Interpol red notice has been issued for their immediate arrests if they travel outside Russia-controlled territories. They will then be brought to Amsterdam to face justice.
"WE ALL REMEMBER VERY VIVIDLY WHAT HAPPENED"
Global affairs analyst Michael Bociurkiw, who was one of the first to arrive at the MH17 crash site, expressed hope that the three suspects will get careless and be nabbed in a country that subscribes to the international-based order.
"That will bring, I think, a lot of satisfaction – if we can use that word – to the relatives," added the former spokesperson for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine.
However, he told CNA's Asia Now he is not hopeful the Putin administration will apologise or offer compensation to victims' families, though it could happen if there is a change in government in Russia.
Bociurkiw, who is also senior fellow at American think tank Atlantic Council, stressed the importance of realising that the skies are not as safe as they used to be, given the conflicts happening around the world.
"There are non-state actors, rebel groups that have much much more powerful weapons that can go up to altitudes where commercial aircraft are cruising," he added.
"Airlines and jurisdictions should pay more attention to the severity of these conflicts, the dangers involved, and also close their airspace when these things happen."
Bociurskiw also shared his experience of being at the crash site.
He has stayed in contact with several victims' families, many of whom could not afford to fly to Wednesday's memorial service. Some have received only part of their loved ones' bodies or nothing at all.
Bociurskiw called for more financial support for them to be able to travel to the Netherlands or perform proper burials.
"The saddest thing was all the evidence, all the belongings on the ground, pointing to how many children were on board – about 80, I believe. Teddy bears, little shoes – there were all kinds of little clothing," he said.
"Even though it's been 10 years, we all remember very vividly what happened."
“I HOPE THEY CAN SHOW US THE JUSTICE”
For the affected families like Mr Melvic Choo and his mother, they continue to remember their loved one and call for those responsible to be held to account.
The 23-year-old now flies for Malaysian budget airline AirAsia. He said he is just grateful to be in the cockpit and fulfilling his ambition to be a pilot after the tragedy.
“Seeing your dad working as a pilot, wearing the uniform, going for work, you think it’s quite cool to wear the uniform, to even fly a plane,” he said.
But for two years after the incident, he talked himself out of becoming one due to the trauma of losing his father.
He then began pilot training before the COVID-19 pandemic struck. After completing flight school, he has been flying for almost a year.
“It’s definitely the passion that drives you, because you feel like … that’s definitely something my dad used to (do), literally (being in) the same seat when he was younger,” he said.
He and his mother, who became a single parent to two boys after the incident, still hope for justice to be served eventually.
Mdm Loy said: “I hope they can show us the justice. Even though we can’t do much, we want to see it.”
