I would remain silent when arranging media interviews for guests and speakers of Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF) but this time I broke the silence as the table grew quiet, “You must be disappointed?”
The image now etched in my mind, a look of dejection.
The Colonel slowly lowered his gaze.
I could see him peering just below the table.
His right hand clenched into a fist. His left, grabbed a handful of his suit trousers.
A facial expression filled with grief he slowly said, “I am very disappointed”.
Colonel Mohd Sakri Hussin was the man tasked to track and bring home the two black boxes from the tragic flight of MH17 which was shot down on June 17, 2014.
Unlike when he was speaking during the “MH17: The Quest for Justice” press conference earlier, he now speaks in a softer tone but just as passionate. The journalists remained quiet as the Colonel recalled the moment he was called up by then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. He was told that there was a special mission for him.
As expected of a decorated army personnel, he was ready. A total of 38 years in the military, he knew exactly the men he needed for the task at hand. Twelve men to be exact and they were honoured to be able to serve the country come what may.
They went to Ukraine on standard tourist visas. Nothing amiss as far as the Ukrainian government was concerned. Just as how MH17 was on a flight path that was neither deemed dangerous nor prohibited, the 12 people too were allowed to travel into areas controlled by dissidents.
I thought to myself, how negligent could the authorities be to let “tourists” travel into conflict zones. The Colonel explained that his team had to go through at least 11 checkpoints but none gave their team any problems.
Having some experience travelling in conflict zone Somalia for a humanitarian mission myself, I knew he was playing down the danger and security aspect of his mission.
To put things in perspective, the Colonel was travelling on a covert mission into unsecured territories where dissidents from the Ukraine had just declared independence a month earlier to establish the Donetsk People’s Republic led by Alexander Borodai. The Colonel and his men were ready to risk everything, even their lives for the country.
They went in with nothing and not only came home with a mission successfully accomplished but also with Malaysia’s pride.
He recalled how Malaysia had just lost MH370 and this time he was not going to allow Malaysia to be defeated again by coming back empty-handed.
The Colonel and his men had a duty towards their country and to people who lost their loved ones.
He said, “No matter what, we will accomplish this mission and we will have faith. May Allah protect us”.
My hair stood on ends and my heart pumped fast as I felt his sense of responsibility and love for the country. He explained how he met Borodai and struck an official deal with the newly-formed government.
They signed an official agreement after having made a National Malaysian Security Council stamp on the spot.
The first thing Mr Borodai said, “What took you so long?” It dawned on me, why indeed.
Apparently, the dissident army was ready to receive officials and authorities in handling the matter but somehow reactions were slow. However, not as slow as some mainstream media accusing the Russians just a couple of days after the downing of the plane.
After the hand-over formalities, the team was promised a safe passage back. The Colonel commented that although certain militias or dissidents were rough (unrefined), they all had one thing in common which was to honour a promise made.
They left the crash site with two heavy black boxes carried in a haversack. They left carrying the hopes of Malaysia on their backs.
A hope especially for those looking for justice. Upon the team’s return they proudly handed over responsibility to the Malaysian authorities.
No celebration and not enough gratitude in my opinion for their sacrifice and service.
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad recently mentioned that Malaysia could have invited experts to study the black boxes instead of handing them over lock, stock and barrel to foreign powers.
It was our plane and lives of our Malaysian citizens. The “MH17: The Quest for Justice” press conference organised by Perdana Global Peace Foundation, International Movement for a Just World and Centre for Research on Globalisation last Saturday concluded with an action plan.
In moving forward, compiled evidence will be prepared for the prime minister’s consideration.
Also, authorities should suspend the trial set for March 2020 until all issues of the Joint Investigation Team’s findings are resolved to truly ascertain legal avenues.
The writer is head of corporate communication, Perdana Global Peace Foundation