The loss of a second Malaysia Airlines plane in less than five months left Asia-Pacific nations shocked and saddened yesterday, prompting calls for a full investigation and a day of mourning in Australia.
All 298 people on board Flight MH17 en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam died when the plane crashed near a Ukrainian village on Thursday, leaving a trail of carnage on the ground. US officials believe it was shot down over Ukrainian airspace.
Among those on the plane were 12 Indonesians.
Photo: EPA
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said if the plane was shot at with military weapons, it was a violation of international law and “even the laws of war.”
“Because of this, if the investigation proves that this is what did indeed happen, Indonesia hopes those responsible are sanctioned and handed a heavy punishment,” he said in a televised press conference.
He urged Indonesians to avoid flights over war and conflict zones, including Ukraine, the Ukraine-Russia border and the Gaza Strip.
Australia, which said 28 of its nationals were onboard the doomed flight, also wants a full investigation, with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott pointing the finger at Russia.
Abbott appeared to go further than other Western leaders in apportioning blame over the crash, demanding that Moscow answer questions about the “Russian-backed rebels” that he said were behind the disaster, which claimed 28 Australian lives.
The Russian ambassador to Australia was called in to discuss the matter, and Abbott said he was unhappy with the response.
“I have to tell you that the initial response of the Russian ambassador was to blame Ukraine for this and I have to say that is deeply, deeply unsatisfactory,” Abbott said.
“We all know that there are problems in Ukraine. We also know who is very substantially to blame for those problems and the idea that Russia can somehow say that none of this has anything to do with them because it happened in Ukrainian air space frankly does not stand up to any serious scrutiny,” he said.
Australia is due to host Russian President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders at a G20 Leaders’ Summit in November. Asked if he would still welcome Putin if Russia was proved to be behind the accident, Abbott hinted there may be repercussions.
“That’s a fair question, let’s just wait and see exactly what turns out to have happened here,” Abbott said in an earlier interview with Melbourne-based 3AW Radio.
Abbott, who called it a “grim day for our country,” said flags would be flown at half mast today on all government buildings as a mark of respect.
“Shocked and saddened to hear about the crash,” Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (李顯龍) on Facebook.
Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it stood in solidarity with its neighbor Malaysia, which is still reeling from the loss of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 due to unknown causes in March.
That plane, which was carrying 239 people, is thought to have crashed in the Indian Ocean, but no sign of it has yet been found.
“It is important that a full and transparent investigation take place to establish what caused the crash,” the ministry said of the latest incident.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully also called for a full investigation as he confirmed one citizen, normally resident in Australia, was on MH17 and had been traveling with her Dutch husband.
A British woman and long-time resident of New Zealand was also among the victims, he added.
“We call for independent investigators to be allowed access to the crash site,” he said in a statement.
Most on board MH17 were Dutch, but there were also 43 Malaysians, nine Britons, four Germans, three people from the Philippines, one Canadian and one from Hong Kong, as well as the Australians.
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