Malaysians to hold gathering against ‘mass killing’ of MH17 passengers and crew
A group of concerned citizens, backed by 80 non-governmental organisations, will hold a protest in the city tomorrow for the "mass killing" of innocent people on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 which was shot down over Ukraine.
Calling the event the "MH17 Justice Gathering", the organisers urged all Malaysians to join in the protest tomorrow.
"This is the time for all Malaysians to be united and voice our solidarity and loyalty to our country," said the group's spokesman who declined to be identified.
"The unprecedented killing of innocent citizens from Malaysia, Amsterdam, Australia, Indonesia, United Kingdom, German, Belgium, the Philippines, Canada and New Zealand, due to a political conflict in Ukraine, should be given wide attention and the perpetrator brought to justice," he said.
The group also urged the United Nations to make clear their stand and how are they planning to address and solve the crisis which has resulted in the death of unarmed and innocent civilians.
“The Ukrainian and Russian governments, which are now blaming each other, shall bear full responsibility for this incident and find the perpetrator who ordered for the flight to be brought down.”
The spokesperson said the protest would be held at 3.30pm and that they would gather in front of the Tabung Haji headquarters in Jalan Tun Razak before marching to Embassy of Ukraine.
"This is beyond our political beliefs. This is for our brothers and sisters and the innocent lives aboard MH17," said the spokesperson.
Flight MH17 en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam was carrying 298 people when it was shot down over eastern Ukraine on Thursday.
The missile attack was condemned by nations across the world.
So far, no one so far has come forward to claim responsibility for the attack.
Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman is in Ukraine to meet the Ukrainian president, vice-president and foreign minister today.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai on Saturday said a special technical team had already arrived in Kiev, which included Special Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) personnel.
However, he added, they are still awaiting clearance to go to the crash site in the Donetsk region, bordering Russia.
Liow said any action which prevented authorities and investigators from learning the truth about MH17 was a betrayal and an obstruction of justice.
He said the remains of the 298 victims could not be laid to rest yet as their bodies were still out in the open.
"Their lives have been claimed by violence, and now violence is also the main obstacle for these victims to be accorded the final respects," he said.
The incident came four months after the disappearance of flight MH370.
The flight carrying 239 people was heading to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur when it disappeared from radar on March 8.
Search operations have been mounted to find the lost plane but until today no debris or bodies have been found. – July 21, 2014.
