Five nations want UN tribunal on MH17
Malaysia, Australia, Belgium, Netherlands and Ukraine have urged the UN to set up an international criminal tribunal to prosecute those responsible for downing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.
According to a press release by the Foreign Ministry, the five countries, which are already part of the independent criminal investigation team on the incident, will seek the support of the UN Security Council to set up the tribunal.
"Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Ukraine call upon members of the Security Council to support this proposal to ensure that those responsible are held to account and to deter those who would threaten civil aviation," it said.
The call came after countries were handed the classified draft report on the investigation, coordinated by the Dutch Safety Board, into the downing of Flight MH17.
Appropriate response
The Dutch Safety Board in its preliminary finding concluded that the aircraft was hit by a "high energy projectile".
All 298 passengers and crew members on board the aircraft bound for Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam were killed in the crash.
Malaysia's foreign ministry said the creation of an international criminal tribunal under Chapter VII of the UN Charter will send a clear message that the international community will not tolerate acts that threaten international peace and security by endangering civil aviation.
"A tribunal established by the Council would ensure broad international support for prosecutions and would maximise the prospects of securing international cooperation, which will be necessary for an effective prosecution.
"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," it said.
For more news and views that matter, subscribe and support independent media for only RM0.36 sen a day:
Subscribe now