Loke: Malaysia will not rest till it secures justice for victims
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is unwavering in its resolve to hold those responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in July 2014 accountable for their actions.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said Malaysia and the other members of the Dutchled Joint Investigation Team (JIT) would not rest until they had secured justice for the victims of MH17 and provided closure for their loved ones.
He said this during a joint courtesy call by Dutch Ambassador to Malaysia Karin Mossenlechner and Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Andrew Goledzinowski on Tuesday. A statement on the courtesy call was released by the Foreign Ministry yesterday.
The meeting discussed issues of mutual interest, including bilateral transportation, Flight MH370 and developments concerning MH17. “Loke commended JIT on the progress of its investigation and reaffirmed Malaysia’s position as per the government statement issued on May 25, 2018,” said the statement.
Loke reiterated that Malaysia was studying the latest findings of the JIT criminal investigation. He stressed Malaysia’s continued commitment to JIT’s effort for justice.
On May 25, Wisma Putra released a statement saying that Malaysia remained resolute in the pursuit to prosecute those responsible for the MH17 tragedy.
In this regard, it said, Malaysia appreciated the presentation of the latest report by JIT on May 24, and the way forward on the criminal investigation, as well as its related press statements.
After four years of investigation into the downing of Flight MH17, JIT said the jetliner was shot down by a Russian BUK antiaircraft missile.
In a statement published on its website, JIT said the team was convinced that a BUK was used to down MH17, and that it originated from the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade (53rd Brigade), a unit of the Russian Army from Kursk in the Russian Federation.
JIT is made up of Dutch prosecutors and police, as well as other members from Australia, Malaysia and Ukraine.
The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down over the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine.
All 298 people on board were killed.