Dutch journalist claims evidence MH17 shot down by Russian BUK missile

[Hindustani78]

Netherlands, Malaysia push for UN tribunal for MH17 culprits | Zee News

Last Updated: Wednesday, June 24, 2015 - 22:37

United Nations: The Netherlands, Malaysia and three other countries want a UN tribunal to be set up to try those responsible for the downing of the Malaysia Airlines flight over Ukraine last year, a senior diplomat said Wednesday.


Malaysia is expected to present a draft resolution to the Security Council next month on setting up the tribunal, said the diplomat, who asked not to be named.

"They are looking for agreement to establish a UN tribunal that would be the way to hold accountable," he said.

It remains unclear, however, whether Russia would back the creation of the special tribunal, modeled after other courts set up by the United Nations for the prosecution of serious crimes.

All 298 passengers and crew on board Flight MH17 -- the majority of them Dutch -- died when the plane was shot down on July 17 last year.

Suspicions immediately turned to the pro-Russian separatists in east Ukraine who may have used a surface-to-air missile supplied by Russia to shoot down the plane.

Spurred by a global outcry over the downing, the Security Council last year adopted a resolution demanding that the perpetrators be brought to justice.The five countries of the Joint Investigation Team -- Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Ukraine -- met last week in New York to discuss the proposed international court.

The diplomat said the countries were mindful of the need to "avoid a Russian veto" and that careful negotiations would be required on the wording of the resolution setting up the court.

Malaysia is hoping that the council will adopt the measure on July 22 to mark the one-year anniversary of the first resolution passed just days after the tragedy.

There is also concern that the resolution should be adopted before the criminal investigation is completed in the coming months, the diplomat said.

A Dutch government spokesman declined to comment on the planned tribunal, saying only that the five countries are in talks on ways to ensure that those responsible are prosecuted.

"At the moment, these five countries are consulting with relevant states to seek support for the best option," said the spokesman.

The Netherlands has been tasked with leading the investigation into the cause of the accident and identifying the victims.

The Boeing 777 passenger jet was traveling between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down, with the wreckage still strewn across fields in eastern Ukraine controlled by the separatist fighters.

AFP

 

[Penguin]

man this is like the longest case ever

How Long Does It Take For The NTSB To Complete An Aircraft Accident Investigation?
Posted in Airplane and Helicopter Crash Investigation Process by William Angelley
The short answer is that it depends on the complexity of the case and whether there were any injuries or fatalities. In minor crashes or incidents with no injuries, the investigation can usually be concluded in a matter of weeks. If, however, fatalities or serious injuries are involved and/or the investigation requires in-depth testing of the aircraft, engine or component parts, the investigation can take a year or more. Probable cause determinations in large commercial airline crashes can often take longer still.

How Long Does It Take For The NTSB to Investigate A Plane Crash Or Helicopter Crash
While this is not the NTSB, this is indicative.

Manual of Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation
aviadocs.net/icaodocs/docs/9756_p3_cons_en.pdf

 

[Hindustani78]

Poroshenko sends bill to Rada on extending MH17 international investigation mission in Ukraine
25.06.2015
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has introduced a bill to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on prolonging the agreement between Ukraine and the Netherlands on the MH17 disaster international investigation mission.

The bill "On ratifying the Agreement (in the form of exchanging notes) between Ukraine and the Kingdom of the Netherlands on the International Investigation Mission as of July 28, 2014" was introduced to the parliament on Thursday.

The bill is currently being considered by parliament's leaders.

As reported, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17, killing all 298 people on board. Most of the victims were Dutch and Malaysian nationals. The casualties also included citizens of Australia, Indonesia, Germany, Belgium, the Philippines, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand.

 

[Hindustani78]

2:18 Jun. 27, 2015
Guardian: Russia rejects calls for UN tribunal to prosecute MH17 suspects - read on - uatoday.tv

A Malaysia Airlines crew member places a flower next to candles after prayers for the victims of the downed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 25, 2014 (AP photo)

Five countries investigating shooting down of a Malaysia Airlines plane over Ukraine call for an international tribunal to prosecute those responsible


A senior Russian official has rejected calls for the establishment of a UN tribunal to try those responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine last year.

Deputy foreign minister Gennady Gatilov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying: "We are against it. We think it is not timely and counterproductive."

The Netherlands, Malaysia and three other countries want a UN tribunal to investigate the incident last July in which all 298 passengers and crew died.

The Boeing 777 passenger jet was travelling between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down in eastern Ukraine during some of the worst fighting between government forces and pro-Russian separatists, who took up arms against Kiev's pro-western government a few months earlier.

 

[Hindustani78]

Dutch confident MH17 prosecution will succeed, eventually| Reuters
Tue Jun 30, 2015 9:59am EDT

The Dutch prosecutor leading the investigation into the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine last year said on Tuesday he was confident of concluding his investigation successfully but was not yet ready to issue arrest warrants.

The plane with 298 passengers on board, two-thirds of them Dutch, was shot down in July and crashed in territory held by Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

"We are not yet far enough that we have formal suspects identified or are ready to arrest suspects," said Fred Westerbeke, leading the international investigation.

He said based on the pace of the inquiry and the evidence gathered so far he was "confident" that suspects would eventually be brought before a judge.

The Netherlands is discussing with its allies the option of establishing an international tribunal to prosecute suspects, sources have told Reuters, possibly under the auspices of the United Nations.

Westerbeke said a tribunal may be the best option because it would have widespread, international backing.

Prosecutors believe the plane was likely shot down by a ground-to-air missile, but Westerbeke said he could not yet rule out other theories.

Moscow says the passenger jet was hit by a rocket fired from a Ukrainian fighter jet. Kiev denies that.

After reviewing vast quantities of data, social media postings, video evidence and interviewing 100 witnesses, Westerbeke said: "A large group of people have been identified as persons of interest."

Investigators from the Netherlands, Belgium, Malaysia, Australia and Ukraine will need until the end of 2015 and possibly longer, to conclude their case, he said.

(Reporting By Anthony Deutsch, writing by Thomas Escritt; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

 

[Hindustani78]

Radio Liberty: Russia dissatisfied with MH17 report by Dutch safety agency - read on - uatoday.tv

Ukraine and the West suspect plane destroyed by Russian surface-to-air missile, Russia denies

Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency says a draft Dutch report into the causes of last year's crash of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 in eastern Ukraine "raises more questions than it gives answers."

Russian news agencies quoted Rosaviatsiya deputy chief Oleg Storchevoi as saying on July 2 that the agency has "a range of weighty remarks regarding the document, stated arguments, and simply technical data."

Storchevoi expressed hope that Rosaviatsiya's comments and questions will be reflected and answered in the final report, to be released in October.

 

[Hindustani78]

Malaysia must seek justice for MH17 victims: Defence Minister | Zee News
Last Updated: Friday, July 3, 2015 - 14:25

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia must take a stand and seek justice for the victims of Malaysia Airlines plane downed over Ukraine last year, the country's defence minister on Friday said after Russia rejected its calls for setting up a UN tribunal to try those responsible for crashing the aircraft.

Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said that geopolitics and superpowers should not get in the way of justice for all the 298 people who died in the MH17 crash over eastern Ukraine.

"We must make our voices heard; we must find out who the culprits were and seek justice for the victims," he said.

"I personally want justice for MH17."

Hishammuddin said unlike Flight MH370, which is still missing, the authorities had enough evidence to seek justice for the MH17 passengers.

The Boeing 777 heading from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014.

Since the crash, controversies have continued over who downed the plane. Ukraine and the West suspect that it was destroyed by a Russian surface-to-air missile fired by Moscow-backed separatists fighting in the area.

Russia denies that and Russian officials and state media have alleged the plane was shot down by a Ukrainian missile.

Malaysia has told the UN Security Council that it plans to submit a resolution soon to set up an international tribunal to prosecute those responsible for shooting down the plane.

But Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov has been quoted as saying that his government was against the proposal as it was not timely, and counter-productive.

Russia is a veto-wielding member of the Security Council.

The Netherlands, Malaysia and three other countries want a tribunal to investigate the crime.

Hishammuddin said Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai had informed him that the final report on the MH17 would be out soon.

It was reported that the Dutch Safety Board has completed a draft report on MH17 with the final report expected to be out in October.

PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

Malaysia tells U.N. Security Council of push for MH17 tribunal - watch on - uatoday.tv
Malaysia plans for U.N.-backed tribunal to deal with "criminal accountability" for MH17

Malaysia has told the United Nations Security Council it plans to push for a U.N.-backed tribunal to prosecute those suspected of downing a passenger airliner last year in eastern Ukraine. Russian officials said Malaysia's move is premature. Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down last year on July 17th killing all 298 passengers on board.

The aircraft was shotdown over territory held by Russian-backed separatists. Evidence has been posted to the Internet purporting to prove that Russia supplied the rebels with anti-aircraft missile systems, accusations Kremlin-officials continue to deny.

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[Hindustani78]

Last Updated: Friday, July 3, 2015 - 19:49
UN `best option` for trying MH17 suspects: Dutch PM | Zee News

The Hague: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte called Friday for the creation of an international tribunal to try those responsible for downing a Malaysian airliner over Ukraine last year.


"A UN tribunal is the best option for prosecuting those responsible for the MH17 disaster, as it is the best chance to get them before a court of law," Rutte, whose country had the most nationals among the 298 victims, told a weekly press conference.

Malaysia Thursday told the UN Security Council it planned to file a draft resolution on a UN tribunal to try those who downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

Russia has balked, with Deputy Foreign Minister Gennadiy Gatilov lashing the proposal as "not timely, and counterproductive."

After the tragedy suspicions immediately turned to pro-Russian separatists in east Ukraine, accused of using a surface-to-air missile supplied by Russia.

Russia denies the allegation and points the finger at Kiev.

Spurred by a global outcry, the Security Council last year adopted a resolution demanding the perpetrators be brought to justice.

Malaysia is working with Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands and Ukraine - all member countries of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) - on setting up the international tribunal.

"Based on all insights, information and advice we say this is by far the most-preferred route. We do have a back-up plan, but a UN tribunal is our best option," said Rutte, who for the first time officially stated the Dutch government`s position.

Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders told the NOS national broadcaster a UN court would give "greater legitimacy and better chances of prosecution."

"But there are no guarantees and its not the only option," Koenders said.

The resolution would be drafted under chapter 7 of the UN charter, which means that the tribunal`s efforts to reach prosecution could be enforced by sanctions.

Gatilov had said the investigation into the downing be completed before any further steps are taken.

The Boeing 777 jet was en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam when it was shot down during fierce fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists.

AFP

 

[Hindustani78]

Russia rejects calls for MH17 tribunal - read on - uatoday.tv
Jul. 8, 2015
The Netherlands has taken the lead in an a multinational investigation into the MH17 crash

UNIAN: Russia rejects calls for tribunal to prosecute those responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine last year, arguing that the investigation into the incident has not been completed and no precedents exist for establishment of such body.

"In fact, we do not like the idea for several reasons. The trial is still in progress, no final conclusions have been made. The Netherlands only showed theinterim version of this report. They, themselves, admit that they will be able to finish with the investigation and submit the report only by the end of the year," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennadiy Gatilov said on Tuesday, the Russian TASS information agency reports.

In addition, he noted that "no tribunals were created in all other similar situations."

"The establishment of the tribunal is a complex and time-consuming process, associated with the composition of a tribunal, its functions, and financing".

"In this case, we see this as politically illogical and unnecessary [move]. We consider attempts to adopt this resolution through the Security Council as counterproductive," Gatilov said.

According to him, it is necessary that we first finish with the investigation and then "it will be clear what actions should be taken."

As UNIAN reported earlier, the Netherlands want a UN tribunal to investigate the incident last July, in which all 298 passengers and crew died. The vast majority of them - 194 passengers - were citizens of the Netherlands.


The Boeing 777 passenger jet was travelling between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down in eastern Ukraine during some of the worst fighting between government forces and pro-Russian separatists.

On July 24, Ukraine delegated the investigation of the aircraft crash to the Netherlands.

 

[Penguin]

"all other similar situations"
Wonder what those are according to Gatilov.

 

[Hindustani78]

MH17 crash: Investigations to continue till 2016 | Zee News
Last Updated: Saturday, July 11, 2015 - 16:03

Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Najib Razak on Saturday said that the investigations into the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine last year will continue till the end of 2016.

He said the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) now has a clearer picture of the cause of the tragedy, the Malaysian Star reported.

"They are scrutinising and investigating all possible scenarios in detail," he said during a memorial marking the first anniversary of the tragedy at Kuala Lumpur International Airport`s Bunga Raya Complex.

The Boeing 777-200, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, crashed on July 17 last year in Ukraine`s eastern Donetsk region, some 60 km from the Russian border, in the zone of combat operations between the pro-Russian seaparatists in Donetsk and the Ukrainian army.

Najib said the criminal investingation into the crash in Ukraine was still going on to ensure those responsible would face justice.

He added that all possible ways to prosecute those responsible were being considered.

As for the technical investigations, he said the Dutch Safety Board (DSB) was expected to publish their final report in October.

Some 1,000 people, including the next-of-kin, foreign dignitaries, ministers and Malaysia Airlines management and crew attended the memorial.

As first anniversary looms, MH17 families demand justice | Zee News
Last Updated: Saturday, July 11, 2015 - 10:26

Sepang: Families of those killed when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine last year demanded justice Saturday at an emotional memorial ceremony ahead of the first anniversary of the disaster.

The sombre memorial service at Kuala Lumpur International Airport was attended by Prime Minister Najib Razak, and relatives of those who died used the opportunity to air their continued frustrations over the handling of the tragedy.

"We want to find out who shot down the plane. We must find out," said Ivy Loi, whose husband Captain Eugene Choo was one of the pilots on board the flight.

Loi, who was greeted by many Malaysia Airline employees at the event, attended the service with her two sons and relatives.

"We`re just trying to cope," she added as she wiped away tears.

Rita Phang, 62, lost her cousin when the plane was downed.

"I know it`s almost a year, but we still feel sad, even though we know we have to accept the way things are," she said. "But action needs to be taken. I want justice to be served."

The event saw grieving families observe a minute`s silence. Many cried and became emotional when the names of the passengers scrolled across screens in tribute to the dead.

The Boeing 777 passenger jet was travelling between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down in eastern Ukraine on July 17, during some of the worst fighting between government forces and pro-Russian separatists who took up arms against Kiev`s pro-Western government a few months earlier.

All 298 passengers and crew on board the Malaysia Airlines jetliner -- the majority of them Dutch -- died.

Suspicions immediately fell on the separatists, who may have used a surface-to-air missile supplied by Russia to shoot down the plane.


But Moscow flatly denied it was involved and pointed the finger instead at Ukraine`s military.

Speaking at the memorial, Najib said the international criminal probe into the downing of the plane was ongoing and could be completed by the end of the year.

"Detailed investigations are still continuing.. and they are expected to be finished by the end of 2015 at least," he said.

AFP

 

[Hindustani78]

Five countries ask UN Security Council to set up MH17 tribunal| Ukrinform
KYIV, July 14 /Ukrinform/. Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Ukraine have officially asked the UN Security Council to set up the international criminal tribunal to prosecute those responsible for MH17 crash.

This is said in the statement of the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations.

"The establishment of an independent international criminal tribunal by the UN Security Council would be the best means of ensuring justice for the victims and their loved ones and would comply with the highest international standards. It would also be an appropriate response to the fact that the incident and the related implications for the safety of civil aviation affect the interests of the international community as a whole. The five countries are working to secure the support of Security Council Members for the tribunal," reads the statement.

Flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur crashed on July 17, 2014, in Donetsk region, in the area controlled by Russian-backed militants. All 298 people on board were killed.

ol

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Remebering MH17: Aviation lawyer gives exclusive interview on flight MH17 tragedy - watch on - uatoday.tv
Andriy Guck speaks about role of international organisations in the investigation

Ukraine Today is joined by Andriy Guck, an aviation lawyer, to discuss the tragedy of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, which was shot down a year ago in east Ukraine.

Key quotes:

"Now we have preliminary report, that clearly says that there were no violations from the Ukrainian side on the issue of airspace closure."

"The most enforceable decision [is] when, for example, the Netherlands will sue Russia, or Malaysia will sue Russia, or Ukraine will sue Russia."

 

[Penguin]

1 Jul 2015
Progress of the MH17 investigation

The Dutch Safety Board has reported on the progress of the investigation into the MH17 crash to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO ). Such a report is required by Article 6.6 of ICAO Annex 13, which obligates the Dutch Safety Board to release an interim statement one year after the occurrence. In this interim statement, the Dutch Safety Board briefly clarifies which steps have been taken in the past year and when the final reports are expected to be published.

Below is the full text, which was sent to ICAO on 1 July 2015.

Progress of the MH17 Investigation
The Dutch Safety Board is investigating the crash of flight MH17, which happened on Thursday, 17 July 2014, in the Donetsk area (Ukraine). The Board is making every effort to give as clear a picture as possible of the cause of the crash. With 17 July 2015 coming up soon, a year after the crash, the Dutch Safety Board is reporting on the progress of the investigation in accordance with Article 6.6 of Annex 13 to the convention on International Civil Aviation.

The investigation is being carried out on the basis of the standards and recommended practices as described in the aforementioned ICAO Annex 13. The State in which the incident occurred (Ukraine) has delegated the investigation to the Dutch Safety Board. The Dutch Safety Board is therefore in charge of the investigation and directs the international team of investigators. The investigation team is composed of specialists from Malaysia, Ukraine, the United States, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Netherlands.

In addition to the international investigation into the cause of the crash, the Dutch Safety Board is also investigating the decision-making process pertaining to safety when determining flight routes, as well as the availability of passenger information.

The Dutch Safety Board published a preliminary report containing its first findings regarding the crash of flight MH17 on Tuesday, 9 September 2014. The preliminary report contains the initial data from the investigation into the cause of the crash based on the sources that were available to the Dutch Safety Board.

The draft final reports on the investigation into the crash and the investigation pertaining to flight routes were made available to the accredited representatives of the participating States on Tuesday, 2 June. In accordance with ICAO Annex 13, they have sixty days to submit comments on the reports. The Dutch Safety Board will then assess the submitted comments and draw up the definitive final reports. The consultation period the investigation into the availability of passenger information has ended. The Board expects to publish the final reports in the first half of October 2015.

Dutch Safety Board | Investigations & Publication | Investigation crash MH17, 17 July 2014

 

[Hindustani78]

Putin says calls for UN tribunal on downing of MH17 premature | Zee News
Last Updated: Thursday, July 16, 2015 - 19:47


Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday calls for a U.N. tribunal to be set up to prosecute suspects in the downing of a Malaysian airliner in a rebel-held part of Ukraine were counterproductive and premature.


Putin made his comments in a phone call with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte before Friday`s first anniversary of the incident in which all 298 aboard were killed, many of them Dutch.

Rutte has said a U.N. tribunal would give "the best guarantee of cooperation from all countries" in seeking justice for the families of the victims. Russia disputes accusations that pro-Russian separatists fighting government forces in east Ukraine shot it down.

The Kremlin said in a statement that Putin "explained Russia`s position regarding the premature and counterproductive initiatives of several countries, including the Netherlands, on the establishment of an international tribunal."

It said he had underlined that any decisions and investigations must be thorough, objective and independent, and criticised what the statement described as politicised media coverage offering various versions of what happened.

Russia, which denies involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, has dismissed the theory widely supported abroad that the pro-Russian separatists hit the plane with a Russian-supplied BUK missile. Russian officials have suggested Ukrainian forces shot it down, a charge denied by Kiev.

The Netherlands is leading the criminal investigation, which is also assisted by Belgium, Australia and Ukraine. A final report on the cause of the crash is due to be released in October by the Dutch Safety Board.

Reuters

Dutch Safety Board | Investigations & Publication | Investigation crash MH17, 17 July 2014

The Netherlands is leading the criminal investigation, which is also assisted by Belgium, Australia and Ukraine. A final report on the cause of the crash is due to be released in October by the Dutch Safety Board.

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MH17 investigation says jet was shot down by Russian missile: Report | Zee News
By Supriya Jha | Last Updated: Thursday, July 16, 2015 - 11:41

Zee Media Bureau/Supriya Jha

Washington: In what may spell fresh trouble for Russia, the investigation into the crash of Malaysia Airlines jet MH17 has found pro-Russian rebels responsible for shooting the plane down a year ago, the CNN says.

The revelation comes just a day before the world will mark the first anniversary of the plane tragedy during which 298 people were killed when it was shot down over Ukraine war zone on July 17, 2014.

Citing a source that has seen the Dutch investigators' report into MH17 shoot-down, the CNN reported that the probe has found out that the plane was shot down by a Buk missile -- a Russian surface-to-air missile.

The investigative report authored by the Dutch Safety Board, has not yet been released officially.

The report just confirms what Ukraine had said in the immediate aftermath of the plane crash.

Ukraine`s security service had also provided to US the alleged intercepted phone conversations of pro-Russian rebels discussing how they shot down Malaysian airliner MH17, which were confirmed as genuine by the US embassy in Kiev.

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing-777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over eastern Ukraine`s war zone on July 17, 2014.

It was said to have deviated from its normal flight path to avoid thunderstorms, a top aviation official from the European Cockpit Association had said.

In the aftermath of the plane tragedy, pro-Russian rebels had made it difficult for international observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to monitor the crash site.

There were also reports of the rebels having dragged the dead bodies away and also looted them.