Police intervene as Chinese anger mounts over fate of MH370

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A relative of Chinese passengers aboard the missing Malaysia Airlines, flight MH370, protests after Malaysian government representatives leave after a briefing in Beijing on Saturday. Photo: AP

Published: 2:43pm, 22 Mar 2014Updated: 2:51pm, 22 Mar 2014

Police were forced to intervene on Saturday as relatives of Chinese passengers aboard vanished Flight MH370 rushed towards Malaysian officials at a Beijing hotel, demanding answers over the fate of their loved ones.

The confrontation at the Lido Hotel came as the search for the missing jet entered its third week, with many clinging to the hope that family members might still be alive and alleging Malaysian involvement in a cover-up.

A total of 153 Chinese were on board the Beijing-bound Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 that disappeared from civilian radar screens on March 8, nearly an hour after taking off from Kuala Lumpur. The plane was carrying 239 passengers and crew.

“Government of Malaysia, tell us the truth! Give us back our loved ones!” shouted audience members at Saturday’s briefing at the hotel attended by government officials. The hotel has hosted daily briefings for relatives from representatives of the airline.

A relative of Chinese passengers aboard a missing Malaysia Airlines, flight MH370 cries as others protest after a briefing by Malaysian government representatives at a hotel in Beijing on Saturday. Photo: AP

“The Malaysian government is deceiving us. They don’t dare to face us. The Malaysian government are the biggest murderers,” a relative in the audience shouted, even though there is no evidence to suggest a government conspiracy.