Grieving Beijing Families Picket Malaysian Embassy at Liangmaqiao

Families of the missing passengers of Malaysia Airlines MH370 reacted sharply to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's statement Monday night that the flight "ended in the southern Indian Ocean" with an official statement claiming a cover-up, followed by a large number of them picketing in front of the Malaysian embassy in Beijing.

The statement reads:

Quote:

At 22:00 on March 24, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib, without direct evidence in the case, issued a statement that Malaysia Airlines MH370 eventually crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, with no survivors. "Since March 8, in the 18 days since Malaysia Airlines announced it had lost contact with the flight, Malaysia Airlines, the Malaysian government, and the Malaysian military have constantly tried to delay, hide, and cover up the truth, in an attempt to deceive the families of the passengers and the people of the world. This despicable act has not only fooled and devastated the families of our 154 Chinese passengers physically and mentally, while also misleading and delaying the rescue operation, wasting manpower, material resources and precious rescue time. If our 154 loved ones have lost their lives, then it is Malaysia Airlines, the Malaysian government, and the Malaysian military that have killed them.

Meanwhile, as of noon today, families of the missing passengers traveled en masse to the Malaysian Embassy in the Liangmaqiao area to demand more information they say the Malaysian government must be withholding.

The majority of family members departed the Lido Metropole Hotel this morning and as of this publishing are still there. Commuters should expect local traffic delays.

Pictures from the Weibo stream of the MH370 Family Association:

Text accompanying the last Weibo post:

Quote:

Family members have arrived at the entrance to the Malaysian embassy; Malaysian officials have not come out to respond to us, but instead only hide inside [the embassy] and take pictures of us!!! Where is your ambassador? Procrastinating, deceiving, concealing the truth: what have you done except for these actions? Publicly announce the truth; give us back our families!!!

Photo: nbcnews.com, sinaimg, Weibo (2)