MH17 victim's kin: We're open to Russia-M'sia investigation

Summary

• Enny Nuraheni, sister of MH17 victim Ninik Yuriani, says her family has accepted the loss after 10 years and is ready to move forward for the sake of Ninik’s children and grandchildren.

• Welcoming a renewed joint investigation between Russia and Malaysia, she emphasises that families like hers remain at the mercy of the authorities.

• Despite ICAO’s finding that Russia was responsible for the tragedy, the country rejects the decision and insists on a politically neutral investigation.

The sister of Ninik Yuriani, one of the victims who died when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down, said she is finally ready to let go and begin healing from the loss.

Enny Nuraheni said her family would support any joint investigation by Russia and Malaysia, following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the findings of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Jakarta-based Enny shared that she once clung to a faint hope that, by some miracle, Ninik might have survived the tragedy. But now that the hope has been laid to rest, she is choosing to move forward, for the sake of Ninik’s children and grandchildren.

“It has been over 10 years. Things have happened. What else will we get?” Enny said, when asked about her hopes after the ICAO ruled that Russia was responsible for the 2014 tragedy, which killed 283 passengers and 15 crew members onboard.

“If they truly want to continue (investigating), we would welcome this. But as a family, it has been more than 10 years.

“We were hoping she would be alive. We thought she would have fallen somewhere and was rescued by some kind people, and that she was living in Ukraine... that was my hope. Sometimes we get miracles, but after 10 years, we have accepted that she is gone.

“If the two nations want to reopen the investigation, we are okay with that. Go on, especially if families want more details on the perpetrators,” she added.

Ninik, who was 57 then, was working in Eindhoven in the Netherlands and was returning to Indonesia to celebrate Eid with her family, before tragedy struck.

Russia won’t yield to ICAO

Anwar said Putin called for a comprehensive and non-politicised investigation into the downing of MH17, and that the country would not cooperate with parties lacking in independence.

“The Russian side is prepared to offer full cooperation to ensure the report is more credible and authoritative. That was the explanation given. I, of course, conveyed it to the families. What I can confirm is that he said it is untrue, regarding claims that he is unwilling to cooperate.

“However, he is unable to cooperate with anybody that he or Russia considers to be lacking in independence. That is what I raised, as it so happened that I was there, and I was the first representative of a country involved in the MH17 incident to meet Putin after the report was released,” Anwar added.

His response, which was widely regarded as excessively diplomatic, prompted sharp criticism, particularly from former Penang deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy.

Following the release of ICAO’s findings, which coincided with Anwar’s scheduled visit to Russia, PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari also urged the prime minister to demand justice from Russia, describing this as a “national trust”.

Fadhli emphasised that Anwar has a responsibility to Malaysians to address the matter during his visit, calling on him to secure a public apology from the Russian government and a commitment to providing compensation.

In a statement following ICAO’s revelation, Russia declared it will not accept the decision, labelling it “illegitimate” and one which “runs counter to the 1944 Convention on International Civil Aviation and its own rules of procedure”.

“We surely want to know who did it, but us being on the sidelines, not knowing the rules and politics around this, we are left at the mercy of the authorities,” Enny said.

“We are not too emotional now because everyone will return to God in different ways. It depends on how God wants to take people - in their sleep, while doing sport, and others. So we, as a family, have accepted this is God’s will, and my sister’s life had to end that way.

“I have to be strong. I have to support my sister’s children and grandchildren. They come to visit me, so I will continue,” she said.

MH17: Anwar lacks moral courage, leadership - Ramasamy

Putin wants 'credible, independent' probe into MH17 downing: Anwar

YOURSAY | Do M'sians killed on MH17 not matter to Anwar?

Don't get dragged into geopolitical games: Anwar’s aide on MH17