Australia, Malaysia PMs’ new bid to find MH17 victims’ remnants
EFFORTS to find the MH17 victims’ remnants and evidence of the atrocity that killed them will be stepped up.
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EFFORTS to find the MH17 victims’ remnants and evidence of the atrocity that killed them will be stepped up before the European winter sets in.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott met with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and the two were fierce in their determination to give closure to victims’ families and deliver justice to the perpetrators.
They also said they would intensify efforts to find the missing MH370 plane.
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Mr Najib said they would send teams back to the MH17 crash site as soon as possible to “ensure remaining victims are soon reunited with their families”.
He said the evidence, which points to Russian-backed rebels shooting the passenger plane down, was “pretty conclusive” but that they needed to gather proof to use in a court of law.
Investigators pulled out of the volatile area when fighting stepped up, but talks of a ceasefire could mean Australian and international personnel will go back in.
However, as December approaches, so does the possibility of subzero temperatures and snow that could hamper efforts.
“That’s why we’re very, very, keen to enter the crash site, especially before winter sets in,” Mr Najib said.
“We need a few weeks together with Australia (to comb the entire area) not only to search for the body parts of the victims but to assemble the physical evidence required.”
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He said they wanted to find out who was responsible for the “atrocious crime” but said it was challenging to gather evidence in a conflict area.
Earlier Mr Abbott met with Malaysian personnel involved in both the MH17 and MH370 operation.
He said no country should be “so subjected to the twists of cruel fate”.
“We will not give up until we have found what’s left of flight MH370 …. We owe it to the families of the lost,” he said.
“(And) we owe it to the families of the victims of flight MH17 to bring all of them home and not to rest until the perpetrators of this atrocity are brought to justice.
“It’s quite likely that there are remains still left, strewn across the fields of the Eastern Ukraine. And we want to be absolutely confident that everything has been done to ensure no one is left untended and alone.”
Mr Abbott said Australia would be guided by the wishes of Malaysia and the families of those lost on MH370 as to whether the wreckage — if found — was retrieved and a memorial built.
On another front, he said Australia had received no specific requests to go into combat against ISIS, and had made no specific decisions. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop earlier had said that Australia was ready to join the US-led coalition.
Mr Najib said Malaysia was prepared to work with the international community.
“Because ISIS does not represent Islam. ISIS is a misnomer. ISIS does not do justice to Islam,” he said.
The Prime Ministers also discussed trade and investment, education, and Islamic finance.
Mr Abbott spent just a day in Malaysia after two days in India discussing a nuclear energy deal as well as investment and education.
He arrives back in Australia this morning, which is the anniversary of his first year in office.
Originally published as Australia, Malaysia PMs’ new bid to find MH17 victims’ remnants