Malaysia Declares National Day Of Mourning For MH17 Victims
Jin Tuliao | | Aug 23, 2014 08:42 AM EDT |
(Photo : REUTERS/Olivia Harris ) The coffin of twenty-nine-year-old MH17 First Officer Ahmad Hakimi Hanapi is lowered during his burial in Putrajaya August 22, 2014.
Malaysia declared Friday yesterday a day of national mourning as the bodies of flight MH17 tragedy victims brought home through a special chartered plane from Amsterdam, reports said.
At the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the coffins and urns were transferred to white hearses as the Malaysia’s King Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, Prime Minister Najib Razak and other top officials gathered together for a solemn reception ceremony, BBC News reported.
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The Muslim-majority nation had a moment of silence as a tribute to the remains of Malaysias killed when Flight MH17 shot down by a missile fired in Ukraine last July.
Millions of Malaysians wore overwhelming black-clad as a sign of respect for the victims. The Malaysian flag was lowered to half-mast, while businesses, entertainment and other events were cancelled for the day of mourning.
Some sources said that Malaysia's public transportation, which includes the national rail system and Kuala Lumpur's monorail, temporarily stopped for a while during the minute of silence.
Prime Minister Najib posted a condolence message on Facebook and twitter saying no words can express the sense of loss in seeing the bodies return, my prayers are with the victims and families of MH17.
According to some media reports, the bodies of the victim have given to their families and relatives to be laid to rest. However, three of the 20 dead bodies have been cremated in the Netherlands.
The Malaysian government makes an all-out effort to bring home the remaining victims, Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said in a statement.
This is the first time Malaysia held a national day of mourning for civilian victims. Traditionally, only the royal family and government heads were given such honor, some reports confirmed.
TagsMalaysia, homecoming, victims, MH17 flight
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