Following an announcement from Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak that “Flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean” and that there was no hope of any survivors, families of passengers took to the streets to protests Malaysia’s handling of the investigation into the flight’s disappearance. After gathering at the Lido Hotel, where they have been receiving briefings on the search, family members marched to the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing. The Chinese government also called on the Malaysian government to show them the evidence of the plane’s final location, which has not yet been released to the public. From Reuters:
Early on Tuesday, just hours after Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said the plane had crashed in the Indian Ocean, an unidentified family member read out a statement at the Beijing hotel where many of the relatives of those on board were staying, denouncing the airline, the Malaysian government and military for “constantly trying to delay, hide and cover up the truth”.
It was “an attempt to deceive the families of the passengers and an attempt to deceive the people of the world”, said the statement, which was later posted on a Chinese microblog by the “Malaysia Airlines MH370 Family Committee”.
In a later statement, the families said they would head to the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing to “protest, seek the truth and the return of their family members”.
The families, in a statement, said they would “take all possible means” to pursue the “unforgivable guilt” of the airline, the Malaysian government and the military. [Source]
Journalists and others in Beijing live-tweeted the protests and a press conference by Malaysia Airlines:
More than 3/4 of Chinese polled say Flight 370 has influenced whether they'll visit Malaysia. http://t.co/YdCmgVXIpJ pic.twitter.com/Fq96aW81U2
— WSJ China Real Time (@ChinaRealTime) March 25, 2014
Malaysia Airlines CEO: “We do not know why, we do not know how.”
— Chico Harlan (@chicoharlan) March 25, 2014
#Flight370: Malaysian Airlines official said at press conference that US$5000 financial assistance has been prepared for each family member
— People's Daily,China (@PDChina) March 25, 2014
Live photo: Chinese relatives of #MH370 passengers now marching to Malaysian Embassy in Beijing to protest (Sina) pic.twitter.com/VBHvJ29hkT
— George Chen (@george_chen) March 25, 2014
A rarity-public protest in Beijing.Relatives of #mh370 passengers march 2 Malaysian Embassy 2 demand the "truth." pic.twitter.com/EYN1UnuTH5
— Lucy Watson (@lucywatsonitv) March 25, 2014
Protestors near Malaysia embassy in Beijing wearing t-shirts that say, "Pray for MH370". #MH370
— Janis Mackey Frayer (@janisctv) March 25, 2014
#Flight370: Relatives have arrived outside of the Malaysian Embassy.(photo) pic.twitter.com/CZrH6DvUny
— People's Daily,China (@PDChina) March 25, 2014
Protest by families of #MH370 passengers with placards demanding truth, justice, information. pic.twitter.com/mZ7bAE2jEt
— Janis Mackey Frayer (@janisctv) March 25, 2014
#MH370 relatives of missing jet passengers protesting @ Malaysia embassy @meghara @reuters http://t.co/b31CyMNFUn pic.twitter.com/JjXd6yWk7m
— maxim duncan (@maximduncan) March 25, 2014
These chaps have just turned up – embassy guards? pic.twitter.com/VkcMThkSxu
— malcolmmoore (@MalcolmMoore) March 25, 2014
While in China… RT @tomphillipsin Beijing allows rare protest over #MH370 but expels press. pic.twitter.com/SxJrAJc69W pic via @nvanderklippe
— Kristie Lu Stout CNN (@klustout) March 25, 2014
Some #MH370 relatives now in media throng. Police pulling some cameramen away. Now a stretcher with woman being wheeled past.
— Janis Mackey Frayer (@janisctv) March 25, 2014
Another young man makes a run at the embassy gate. Plain clothes police telling riot police and paramilitary not to use force. #MH370
— Philip Wen (@PhilipWen11) March 25, 2014
Hundreds of police in front of Malay embassy in Beijing. More coming. Ambulances. One more small group of relatives just let through.
— Kim Rathcke Jensen (@kinablog) March 25, 2014
MH370 妇女吼武警:中国人不打中国人RT @PhilipWen11: One woman yelling at Chinese paramilitary guards "Chinese people don't lay hands on Chinese people!"
— 乱讲区 (@ljqu) March 25, 2014
#MH370 families chanting for Malaysian diplomats to come out and face them. More police heading to area cordoned off for protest.
— Janis Mackey Frayer (@janisctv) March 25, 2014
MH370 relatives now raging, shouting, chanting
— malcolmmoore (@MalcolmMoore) March 25, 2014
March on Malaysian embassy: municipal buses available, well-organized police presence. Makes you wonder how spontaneous this was. #MH370
— Nathan VanderKlippe (@nvanderklippe) March 25, 2014
Unlike gov't-sponsored protests at Japanese embassy, this one by relatives of MH370 fueled by genuine personal loss – could get ugly
— Rob Schmitz (@rob_schmitz) March 25, 2014
A protester wearing a 'Pray for MH370' t-shirt said the Malaysian ambassador did not come out to talk with families. They all left on buses.
— Janis Mackey Frayer (@janisctv) March 25, 2014
#Flight370: Chinese family members in Beijing have left the Malaysian Embassy.
— People's Daily,China (@PDChina) March 25, 2014
Read more about Flight MH370, via CDT.
