The mourning of a nation

The airplane crash of flight MH17 in Eastern Ukraine shouted out the cruelty of a war conflict in the face of the whole world, as a single shot killed, in a single moment, nearly 300 people from twelve nationalities. Such unfortunate events are, sadly, well known to the world and sadly again, this is hardly the first moment completely innocent people are unwillingly involved in a conflict or a fight they have absolutely nothing in common with. The Lockerbie case is probably a suitable example of the same. In a good part of the last two centuries such events have almost always called an immediate and, in the majority of the cases, military response.
No wonder that many well-respected media and journalist had, a day after the MH17 crash, what they called, a “Franz Ferdinand moment” – reference to the assassination of the Austrian-Hungarian Duke, which was the starting shot of the First World War. In other words, this “Franz Ferdinand moment” was, based on logic and observation, the natural prediction of people occupied with international news and politics – a tragedy of such scale, a clear attack on innocent people from the free world most certainly must cause an immediate and bloody strike back, involving armies, soldiers, armory and possibly some form of a war. A prediction, based on meaningful conclusions from human history, as solid as the founding laws of physics. In nature, every action has a counteraction. The world silenced in the days following the plane crash out of shock, but also holding breath on what will happen now, how the figures on the world chess board will move. Predictably, sure, because major world actors were directly involved. Even more, after it was revealed that the remainings of the victims were treated in most disrespectful manner.

This is where the Netherlands brought a surprise. One the whole world can learn from.

Often criticized for his soft approach and behavior suitable more for a scholar, rather then for his current position, the Dutch Prime Minister Rutte set the tone of the response of the nation, which suffered the most. Set it in a clear, overbearing voice, in a complete controversy with his public image. His first speech on the airplane crash showed a Rutte very few Dutch knew, with a strong, demanding and overwhelmingly sharp wording which demanded – not “an eye for an eye” but justice and immediate repatriation of the bodies. Prime Minister Rutte was angry, but not to something analyzers or world leaders would call an attack on a nation. He was angry on the way the victims were treated, he was angry that since the whole tragedy was a result of a cruel mistake, an investigation must take place, there needs to be justice at least on this parameter.  His response defined the agenda of how events need to be ordered by priority. Reading between the lines of Rutte’s speech, one could clearly see the second message behind - despite the efforts of the separatist to bring a nuance of blackmailing or control, there will be neither of both for it is human lives that were brought to an end. The tone of Rutte’s speech was continued and strengthened in its most core point by the Dutch Prime Minister, Frans Timmermans. His speech at the UN Security Council was emotional to the point that it was touching the saddest aspects of this tragedy, but was as clear as very few before, stressing upon one obvious but neglected fact – treating victims of unfortunate circumstances like this is not something Netherlands will accept, and, if nothing else, will hold all involved responsible for such actions. The human side of the disaster was unvalued because the world was expecting unification of NATO members against a common enemy as we have seen it before. The Netherlands, however, did something very Dutch – they acted by plan, taking care of themselves and their internal interest first. In this case, the families of the victims and the standards this country is set upon, to promote and demand civilized behaviour, to not accept inhumane and disrespectful treatment of casualties.

The death of 193 Dutch citizens is the biggest loss for the country after the Second World War. In just a single day is probably the only one. Since 1945, the Netherlands has been busy with rebuilding society, economy and policy into one of the richest countries in the world, and minus the Indonesian involvement, among the most peaceful and secure. One could expect that a shocking death of so many people in one moment will strike a whole line of emotional responses and chaotic actions from both common people and government, and this all can be excused. Yet still, this is the second point where the Dutch amazed the spectators with fast reaction, order of priorities and daring, by doing something actually very self-distinctive – stood as a whole in an organized manner, following this same agenda set by the words of the Prime Minister that the victims need respect first, everything else is to follow after. This was quite noticeable on the day the first bodies arrived at Eindhoven airport. Very few people can remain neutral to this ceremony, which was held not in a loud and consuming tone, but in neat, organized manner, honoring lives of people, who deserve respect - by Dutch standards, either dead or alive. Separately, individually, with consideration, offering the right attitude not because the bodies were disrespected at the crash scene, but because this is how civilized societies do it, regardless of circumstances. Everything in this ceremony was dosed properly and was also meant to send a message to the world – both allies and probable enemies. The Netherlands is committed to act responsibly harsh on all events and obligations around the MH17 plain crash, following and imposing the rule of law and universal moral demands to as far as possible.

In other words, Netherlands was given the unfortunate opportunity to offer response the entire European Union aims to offer every time an armed or other conflict emerge, but often fails to do so. For the world, the European Union and other so-called international actors, the neatly manner Netherlands answered the loss of so many citizens in an armed conflict they are not involved in, is an excellent lesson on diplomacy and governmental strength, in a society, unfamiliar with war, but familiar with meaningful and proactive unification.