Shortly after flight MH17 shot down on July 17, 2014, is in The Hague in fits and starts the crisis machinery going. The National Crisis Core team. Senior officials of the Interdepartmental Commission Crisis (ICCB), led by the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security. A crisis of most ministers founded concerned.
More than two years after the disaster, documents now released that shed more light on how the Dutch government handled the aftermath, and how big the problems from one day have been.
the enormity of the disaster quickly penetrates through. Already in the first report of the NCTV, “Situation sketch and interpretation Tearing down passenger plane ‘of July 17, 2014 at 19.15 (pdf), it is assumed that Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine have brought down the run.
“event of shooting down the plane, this will lead to an extra jolt.”
the “interpretation” which hitherto was not public:. “In the area where the Boeing 777 of Malaysia Airlines crashed his insurgents who have turned the boss recent days, the rebels shot down repeatedly Ukrainian aircraft against Kiev it is therefore. not excluded that the plane was shot down ”
If the outside world barely knows how big the impact will be, will be drawn already alarming conclusions in factual terms:. ‘chances Given the images of the crash survivors nil. “
” (…) it is very likely that some of the victims of Dutch nationality. Given the holiday season, it is likely that more children are on board. ”
“The event will loose a lot of emotions given the high number of (Dutch) victims. If there are children among the victims is that emotions do add up. “
” in case of the downing of the aircraft will result in an additional shock, especially if this is done deliberately. ”
Bloemenzee at Schiphol after MH17 disaster. (Photo Reuters)
If that evening at 19.30 will meet the crisis team of top officials, the same conclusions: many Dutch victims, and a hint to pro-Russian separatists’
. ICCB takes minutes, just something to take minutes: “in the coming days there will be many questions, emotions and questions of life among the Dutch population” (pdf). and, under the word” risk “,” Search, rescue and repatriation long time coming which concerns may live longer ”
the conclusions of the meeting are three useless black dots’. … “(pdf) And in preview (pdf):” We are waiting for information about the nationalities sitting on board the aircraft, it can not be deduced from the passenger lists. “” There is need his statement a communications advice to the Minister of Justice, then Ivo Opstelten. ‘focus on empathy.
What follows, is etched in our memory
The anger. The horror. The call to address the Russian President Putin hard. The horror of being unable to reach the crash site. The images from there. Hugs. Passports. The grief that many Dutch towns and villages get faces. Empty houses
The Rutte puts on July 23 the three priorities (pdf) which it would hold:.
1. Repatriation of victims
2. Investigation into the circumstances (Safety Board)
3. Criminal prosecution of the perpetrators. The “bottom stone” of Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
There is a lot of what we already know. Through the press conferences, by examining the Research Council, through sets of national and international publications and revelations through the numerous letters to the House.
“Investigation into the cause of the disaster will be difficult. ”
the now declassified documents colors much of what we already knew or suspected. But they shed more light on what happened behind the scenes.
on July 23, six days after the disaster, the NCTV writes an alarming document (pdf) for the crisis of Ministers “the unguarded state of the disaster and the reported compromise of wreckage reaffirm that investigation into the circumstances of the disaster will be difficult ” and:”.. There may also need to take into account the possibility that not all the bodies or body parts will be recovered or identified. “
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disaster (Photo: Jeroen Akkermans)
The senior officials also recommend a bitter realpolitik. They warn that the Netherlands’ plaything is likely to be in a propaganda war. “This is all the stronger if the Netherlands, under the pressure of political opinion, would continue to pursue a ‘harder’ arrangement, for example, responsibility for the crash. ”
As you read the tactics which the government wanted to achieve strategic goals – the tactics that would later trigger so much criticism
no statements about the facts (as the OVV is about), no statements about offenders (because the prosecution is about). not megaphone diplomacy toward Vladimir Putin. Therefore stand this kind of wording in the report (pdf).
“the relations with Russia are on edge. ”
” There must be a proper balance found between relatives care and the international political situation ”
and, if the call for stronger sanctions sounds, “the minister cautious because we must first realize the first two points”:. retrieve victims and research facts (pdf)
It’s hard line versus international poldering:. “Where are several countries calling for a hard line against Russia, the Netherlands is preparing an international coalition that emphasizes largest Dutch interests in this moment. This approach seems to be starting to bear fruit. “
If the decision-making machinery of the crisis team gets going, it appears that there are hitches. Oftentimes it is about communication lines ( “speaking with one line ‘, pdf) and bureaucratic inconvenience. Who is the boss? The police? NCTV? Defence? Foreign Affairs? (Pdf) or the select Minister club which Mark Rutte talks about secret military operations?
Premier Rutte MH17 during a commemoration. (Reuters Photo)
Soon, it is about the importance of evaluation. The research project (pdf) shows that it had to deal with the crisis organization, ‘lessons’, but certainly not about ‘accountability’.
The top officials and ministers struggle and seek gradually to a path shown by the pieces. If the Netherlands does not yet have access to the disaster area and prepares for the complicated logistical operation of retrieving bodies, is philosophizing (pdf):?. “Where is the focus Identification of victims International also mainly cause crash the other hand, it closes one to another no matter. ”
“What do we do with debris plane?”
at the same time officials think that you will not find on the ground the cause: “cause over the intelligence side. By PD (crime scene, ed.) Are likely to find little. “” To establish some meetings later that the black boxes provide enough support for establishing the facts. “This requires trace evidence on the ground, so it is important that the disaster area and the remains of the aircraft remain intact. ”
All the attention is focused on the recovery of bodies. It is remarkable that for a long time underexposed remains of the wreckage necessary condition in the reports on July 23:.. take ‘No sharing wreck’ ‘(pdf) on August 4 while fighting rising at the crash site, suddenly comes the question (pdf):
“What do we do with debris plane?”
“NCTV and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Foreign Affairs, ed.) take this contact OM and OVV how to act in respect of the debris . “
and:” There should be a moral commitment to cleaning up the debris by NL. “
Later comes the question again: what do OM and OVV the answer (pdf) come one day before the presentation of the first OVV-examination on 9 september (pdf): “OVV needs some unspecified parts of the aircraft (wreckage). The same applies to the OM. ”
All debris will eventually be salvaged in Kharkov and brought to the Netherlands in December.
Flotsam be taken away by train. (Reuters Photo)
Behind the scenes find many consultations before the first bodies back, and leaves the first Dutch search mission. Consideration is being given to the armed military option on enabling NATO.
From day one is a heavy reliance on Kiev. The documents show that negotiate with the rebels could not, at least, it was not to be called. The contacts had to walk through the OSCE. Meanwhile, in the official documents frequently the word “negotiations” in relation to the separatists. Or, in diplomatic jargon: there should be a “contact person” appointed to “purely operational” duties
There are hesitations about how meaningful it is a mission to rig after the first flights bodies arrived. . “Does it still make sense to seek ”, ask the senior officials themselves.” Are there still finding bodies? ”
The relief is big as the end of July Dutch, Malaysian and Australian researchers at the crash site arrive to investigate itself for surviving human remains
The situation is complex.; There is a lot of fighting near the crash site. Tensions are rising. Some days no research possible, and behind the scenes the worries are increasing. Occasionally, the remains found and fly boxes to Eindhoven, but there is little hope.
“Done what we could given the situation.”
There are worst-case scenarios developed. From Ukraine, Australia and the OSCE is “pressure to finish quickly the mission.
In early August, the conclusion follows:.. abort Abort mission in consultation with the senior one sees it coming, “Answer the question” you can do the most important things? ” desirable ” Because the answer was no, the opinion (pdf) read: “Done what we could given the situation.”. “And:” statement / answer about what we think (own appreciation) of what we have done to be prepared . “
Not long after RTL News research editorial reports based on extensive research of satellite maps that examined only a small fraction of sites in the disaster area and that all human remains can not possibly be found.
then create Officials new plans for a quest for full excavation of the “burned” sites, 40,000 square meters. Then for depositing its 1000 meters of fences, because digging is not feasible. “This offers the best odds for identifying victims not been found yet. ”
in the end, a number of plates is placed (pdf). Later will follow new missions, until, finally, all the victims, but two, have been identified on March 21, 2015.
Why MH17 there still flying?
The newly published documents show how big the Dutch inconvenience was the SES, the State Emergency Service. according to a report by RTL Nieuws correspondent Jeroen Akkermans on September 3, 2014 that this is ordinary firefighters. They were not separatists.
For days they sought in the fields of sunflowers for bodies, debris and personal belongings. They had done their job and collected conscientiously and hundreds of bodies. Not heard from the Netherlands. No one had asked for maps of the search, or what they had recorded it. No thank you, nothing.
The thanks will follow later, in a letter to the ambassador. This is what the official documents: “Health has a discussion about SES, we also like to issue a token The UK embassy hesitate in Ukraine They confirm that SES has helped well but can not rule out that some of SES also have links.. with separatists. So can someone get a penny of SES and later discredited hit.”
Members of the State Emergency Service working at the crash site.
There are more of these “talking points.” Immediately after the disaster is how it was with aviation safety. Why MH17 flew there? It’s an uncomfortable question, rather evades the Cabinet. Internally understood one already on July 18 damn well how relevant was the question
The NCTV then writes to the minister squad, with a sense of understatement. “Although the airspace could be used by civil aviation, it does bring the question to what extent flights over conflict areas are safe. ” (pdf)
There are all administrative (draft) notes produced with the next line of defense.
Yes, there were airlines since the “Crimea” avoided the sky. Yes, there were warnings from international aviation bodies, since the Crimea. Yes, we knew about the situation in eastern Ukraine and yes, we knew there were downed by rebel planes from Ukraine. But because we are also the two services, were unaware that there was a specific threat against civil aircraft, there was no threat that could not be reported.
This circular reasoning is recorded in internal documents. If the OVV the Commission intelligence and Security Services enable research at this point, the alarm bells go off. The top officials – aware of the inconvenience – discuss several times whether this can or should not be regulated differently. It ultimately remains as it was: the defense line just after the disaster was rigged, stand
All documents show that the government is hyper-sensitive to publicity and criticism.. Also because of relatives who must be protected, information outwardly directed tight. To prevent further consternation and emotion.
This policy is in shambles after the erroneous statements by Frans Timmermans about the discovery of a face mask. That slip raises the implicit question of whether victims remembers the last minute, or they suffered. There is a lot of anger. Internally determine the top officials in October: “Experts believe or victims differences have experienced the impact conscious.” (Pdf) With OM and OVV is tuned to the OVV doing research (pdf). It is held stationary. RTL News hears about it and OVV confirms officially in April 2015.
Signs of directing
Repatriation of victims from the first day priority. Then follows the examination of the OVV, and then that of the Public Prosecutor. Outwardly, the government always emphasizes the absolute independence of the OVV and the OM. It is part of the tactics to prevent the Netherlands complains that politics will be sent to the results.
Behind the scenes will certainly important political consultations. It is coordinated with the Minister of Justice. The Lower House will be confidentially informed of the status of the criminal investigation (but only swell as the social and political unrest). The prosecution team talk to the minister at the progress of the criminal investigation.
There are more signs directing. On 20 August (pdf) minutes of the senior: “. Of importance OVV clear reports that something has crash outside plane ” It’s exactly what the OVV three weeks will report later there is agreement on how to deal with Malaysia. that because of the legal system (capital punishment) did not initially participate in the judicial investigation. There is repeated consultations between the Prosecutor and the OVV.
Cabinet members at the arrival of bodies of victims in Eindhoven. (Reuters Photo)
It is clear that the strategy is matched early reports of an official meeting. The second objective (research OVV) and the third (criminal) should not interfere with each other. Literally it says: “Tomorrow private meeting with those directly involved how track 2 and 3 can work together also talked about communication..” (Pdf)
Insiders say that here the basis for an important deal: because the OVV focuses exclusively on the circumstances of the disaster, the Research Council not necessarily the radar or satellite images (from Russia , Ukraine or America) is required.
Those facts (it was a rocket) can already be determined on the basis of the available material. It is sufficient that OVV boss Joustra is informed in the US about what the Americans already knew.
“Still is also the option of a persecution by Netherlands on the table. “
All the fuss of later notwithstanding, it is these roles that is sustained. Requesting satellite and radar images are thus the exclusive domain of Justice, the collection of evidence for what the lower stone.
Of which no stone ever comes up, we do not know. On 28 September, the OM the relatives and the press informed about the state of the criminal investigation.
It is unclear whether we will even hear more about how and where suspects should be prosecuted. The track has faltered through the UN.
Netherlands now investigating whether another form of joint international prosecution is possible. But is still the option of a prosecution by the Netherlands on the table
The top officials knew on August 4, 2014 which was their preference:. “Persecution desired in EN ” (pdf)
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