Tributes to MH17 victims

Grieving relatives and nations pay tribute to victims of the Malaysia Airlines plane shot down over Ukraine. Paul Chapman reports.

Published

6 months ago

Categories

Arts & Society, World

Topics

World, Religion & Spirituality, Europe

People

Tony Abbott, Paul Chapman, Willem Alexander, Muhammad Afif, Liam Sweeney, BARRY SWEENEY

Places

Ukraine, Australia, New Zealand, Kuala Lumpur, Rotterdam

Companies

Malaysian Airlines, Malaysia Airlines

Transcript

In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Muslims pray for the 298 people killed when flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine. The victims include 29 Malaysians, among them architecture student Muhammad Afif whose friends spoke of their grief at losing him. (SOUNDBITE)(English) SHAHIRA NASARUDIN, COURSE MATE OF VICTIM MUHAMMAD AFIF, SAYING: "I would miss his jokes, his weird, random jokes. He was a really creative person, her was a really brilliant and smart person as well so I would miss all that. I would miss him." The father of Liam Sweeney, one of the ten Britons on board, says he just wants his son's body back now. The Newcastle United soccer fan was heading to New Zealand with another supporter to watch a pre-season tour match. (SOUNDBITE)(English) BARRY SWEENEY, FATHER OF MH17 VICTIM LIAM SWEENEY, SAYING: "I don't know why they had to fly over a war zone but against we'll have to find out because...you hear rumours about cheapness for fuel and all that. I don't know that." There were 193 Dutch passengers on board the Malaysian Airlines flight, by far the largest group. In Rotterdam mourners marched to show solidarity with all those who lost loved ones. In Utrecht the country's monarch, King Willem Alexander and his wife Queen Maxima held a private meeting with grieving families. Australia on Tuesday opened a book of condolence. Prime Minister Tony Abbott was joined by ambassadors and diplomats from other nations affected by the tragedy to sign it. All told the victims represented 11 countries whose governments are now clamouring for those who shot the plane down to face the full weight of justice.