President SBY Calls for International Investigation for MH17 Tragedy
On 19th July 2014, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono delivered a press statement on the tragedy of Malaysian Airlines flight 17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. According to reports, 12 Indonesian were on board the ill fated plane. The majority which were from the Netherlands (up to 150 souls) were also mostly flying to Indonesia to visit Bali. In his statement President conveyed both in Indonesian and english as drafted below.
On my personal behalf and on behalf of the people of Indonesia, I would like to express my deepest condolences and sympathies for the tragic incident relating toMalaysian Airlines flight MH-17 yesterday, 17th July 2014, during its flight fromAmsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.
According to reports, the plane was shot by a missile. No less than 298 passengers including the crew lost their lives in this tragic incident. Indonesian citizens are reported to be among the victims. Our prayers and hopes are with the families. Throughout the evening and early morning today, I have been following with great concerns news relating to the incident. Since the very beginning, the minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia has reported the development to me and has tasked the relevant Indonesian embassies, namely, the embassies in theNetherlands, Malaysia, Ukraine, and the Russian Federation to gather as much information as possible including on the possibility of Indonesian citizens on board the flight. Thiseffort revealed that Indonesian citizens were on board the aircraft.
However, in accordance with the advice of the airline concerned and in order to fully ensure the identity of the passengers and to allow notifications to their next of kin, the government of Indonesia has been asked not to reveal their identities at this time. Further, there is a need for a thorough investigation on the cause of this tragedy. The rest of the community should collectively address this incident, notleast; reports indicated the plane was shot down by a missile related to the recent conflict situation in Ukraine. If this is proven, this would constitute a serious breach of international law and laws of war. Those responsible must be held fully accountable and be brought to justice. Indonesia calls for a thorough investigation of the incident and is ready to join any international investigation on that matter.
Not least, this tragedy, the losses of innocent lives reminds us of the urgent need for the conflict situation to be brought to an end, an immediate end. Indonesia calls on all the relevant parties to set aside their differences and look for a political settlement. I have also been informed by the Foreign Minister of Indonesia that later on this morning, local time, the United Nations Security Council will considerthis issue, I welcome this development. Also in the wake of the incident, I haveinstructed all Indonesian airlines to demonstrate upmost concerns and avoid airspace over conflict areas. This should be coordinated with the government, and as a member of the ASEAN family and in this holy month of Ramadan I wish to express my solidarity with the government and people of Malaysia and also with the countries whose citizens have fallen victims to this tragedy.
Before I conclude, Indonesia voices once again its greatest, deepest, and profoundconcerns over the rapidly worsening situation in Gaza. Far from engaging in a ceasefire, as expected by the international community, Israel has decided to launch a ground military operation. [inaudible] the conflict and once again, I should say,and once again call for an immediate ceasefire to be answered by the United Nations, the ending of the cycle of violence and the distribution of humanitarian assistance. Israels ground military operation can only add to the suffering of the Palestine, I should say, to the Palestinian people and must be brought to an immediate end. Thank you very much – the President stated
President SBY also delivered his press statement in english below
1. On my personal behalf, and on behalf of the people of Indonesia, I would like to express my deepest condolences and sympathies for the tragic incident relating to Malaysian Airlines flight MH 17, yesterday 17th July 2014, during its flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. According to reports, the plane was shot down by a missile. No less than 298 passengers, including the crew, lost their lives in this tragic incident. Indonesian citizens are reported to be among the victims. Our prayers and thoughts are with the families.
2.Throughout the evening and early morning today, I have been following with great concern news relating to the incident. Since the very beginning, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, has reported the development to me and has tasked the relevant Indonesian Embassies, namely the Embassies in The Netherlands, Malaysia, Ukraine, and the Russian Federation, to gather as much information as possible, including on the possibility of Indonesian citizens on board the flight. These efforts revealed that Indonesian citizens were on board the aircraft. However, in accordance with the advice of the airline concerned, and in order to fully ensure the identity of the passengers, and to allow notifications to their next of kin, the Government of Indonesia has been asked not to reveal their identities at this time.
3.Further, there is a need for a thorough investigation on the cause of this tragedy. The international community should collectively address this incident. Not least, reports indicate that the plane was shot down by a missile related to the recent conflict situation in Ukraine. If this is proven, this would constitute a serious breach of international law and laws of war. Those responsible must be held fully accountable and be brought to justice. Indonesia calls for a thorough investigation of the incident and is ready to join in any international investigation of the matter. Not least, this tragedy, the losses of innocent life reminds of the urgent need for the conflict situation to be brought to an end an immediate end. Indonesia calls on all the relevant parties to set aside their differences and work towards a political settlement.
4.I have also been informed by the Foreign Minister of Indonesia, that later on this morning, local time, the United Nations Security Council will consider this issue. I welcome this development
5.Also in regard to this incident, I am instructing all Indonesian airlines to demonstrate utmost caution and avoid air space over conflict areas. This should be coordinated with the Government.
6.As a member of the ASEAN family, and in this holy month of Ramadhan, I wish to express my solidarity with the Government and people of Malaysia, and also with the countries whose citizens have fallen victim of this tragedy.
7.Before I conclude, Indonesia wishes to once again express its deep and profound concern over the rapidly worsening situation in Gaza. Far from engaging in a ceasefire as expected by the international community, Israel has decided to launch a ground military operation. We deplore such escalation of the conflict and once again call for an immediate ceasefire to be observed by the United Nations; the ending of the cycle of violence; and the distribution of humanitarian assistance. Israels ground military operation can only add to the sufferings of the Palestinian people and mustbe brought to an immediate end – President SBY stated
The President called the Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Razzak after Friday prayer at 2 pm to convey his condolences and provide Indonesia’s full support in discovering the truth behind this sad event.
(FMG/ISB/AOS)
