Three years after the crash of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in the east of Ukraine, the families of the victims of this aviation tragedy gathered to unveil the "Memorial of Life," a monument built near the Schiphol Airport in Vijfhuizen.
Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur crashed on July 14, 2014. The plane was shot down by a missile which was believed to be launched by the pro-Russian rebels from the East of Ukraine. 298 people aboard the plane died, most of the victims reported as Dutch citizens.
Three years after the flight MH17 tragedy
2,000 friends and family members of the victims gathered in Vijfhuizen to commemorate three years from the aviation tragedy. Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, as well as some Dutch government officials, were also present at the memorial.
298 trees were planted in the place of commemoration, one tree for each victim. These trees make a "green ribbon" around a wall made of steel which is 16 meters wide. A steel plate where the victims' names are written sits in front of the wall.
Ronald Westerhuis, a landscape artist from the Netherlands, designed the monument for the victims of the tragedy. The monument is called "The Forest Monument" and it's is surrounded by a sunflower that suggests the sunflower fields where the plane crashed was found.
Investigation to find the terrorists guilty of the tragedy
In 2016 an international group of investigators led by the Netherlands stated the plane was shot down by a Russian missile which was launched from the East of Ukraine. They said the missile was controlled by the pro-Russian rebels in the area.
The authorities from Russia accused the Ukrainian army — who has been fighting the pro-Russian rebels from the East of Ukraine for a few years — of the tragedy of Flight MH17.
Petro Poroshenko — the President of Ukraine — accused Russia of this aviation tragedy. Poroshenko thinks this that the crime happened because of the Russians and the missile which killed those people came from Russia. He added they have a duty for the victims of the Plane crash and they must punish the terrorists for the crimes they committed, not to allow them to escape responsibility.
If the guilty party is found, the prosecution will take place in the Netherlands.
Liow Tiong Lai — the Malaysian Minister of Transport promised to make justice for the victims of the flight MH17. Tiong Lai said the day of the tragedy will remain in their memory.
