Strohschein: Justice will be served one day

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By: Neil Strohschein

It will be a long time before the world gets over the shock of what happened to Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17. What we know is this: the plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile. It crashed in rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine. All on board were killed.

What we don’t know is who fired the missile and why? Right now, no one is claiming responsibility. Everyone is pointing fingers. Russian is blaming Ukraine. Ukraine is blaming Russia. Major world powers like the United States are also taking sides. Another tragedy has been politicized and in the process, the voices that should be heard are being ignored.

One voice belongs to the government of the Netherlands. They want guaranteed safe access to the crash site so that they can recover and repatriate the bodies of over 160 of their citizens who were killed that day. It is time for their reasonable request to be honoured.

Another voice belongs to the victims’ families. They deserve at least four things — and I believe the international community should insist that these grieving families get what they deserve.

First, a time to grieve in peace. The bodies of their loved ones should be released as soon as possible so that they can be brought home, funerals can be conducted and they can be laid to rest. We insist on these courtesies when tragedy hits a family at home. We should expect no less for the families of these victims.

Second, the truth. Victims’ families deserve to know precisely what happened, who was responsible and why this tragedy took place. It’s encouraging to see that the flight data recorders have been turned over to British authorities for analysis. We can only hope that those in control of the crash site will allow forensics experts from Europe and elsewhere to complete a thorough investigation.

We know that such investigations take time and that it might take a year or two before a full report on this tragedy can be released. The families will wait if they can be assured that they will be told the truth and that the information they receive won’t be coloured by the efforts of political spin doctors.

Third, justice. Once the truth is revealed, victims’ families deserve to see those responsible arrested and brought to trial in a trustworthy court of justice. In all court cases, but especially in this one, justice must not only be done — it must be seen to be done.

Fourth, apologies and reparations. Those responsible need to acknowledge their guilt, apologize and offer some form of compensation to Malaysian Airlines and the victims’ families. No words can bring those killed in this tragedy back to life. But an apology can help to ease the families’ suffering and bring peace in this tension-filled situation. And while no amount of financial compensation can atone for the loss of even one life, at least the victims’ families will be able to give the dead a dignified burial.

Will we ever see any of these four things happen? We will see token gestures, but I doubt we will see anything substantial to ease the victims’ families’ pain. But this is not the end of the story. There was a silent witness to this tragedy. Almighty God was there. He knows who fired the missile, who gave the command to do it and why. One day he will tell us everything he knows; and that’s when justice will finally be served.