What Malaysian Mainstream Media Are Not Telling You About The Detention Of Natalie Lowrey
About 20 supporters of Australian environmental activist Natalie Lowrey have staged a protest outside the Australian headquarters of Lynas rare-earth mining company that Natalie was protesting against when she was arrested by Malaysian authorities. Here's what the Malaysia mainstream media are not telling you.
By Sadho Ram — 27 Jun 2014, 01:54 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
Activist Natalie Lowrey Released After Being Locked Up For Six Days In Malaysian Jail
A Sydney-based environmental activist, Natalie Lowrey, has been released after being detained for six days in Malaysia, where she was protesting against an Australian company's metals plant. Lowrey, from New Zealand, was arrested on Sunday while demonstrating at Lynas' controversial plant for rare earths, which are used in tech products such as smartphones.
theguardian.com
Police had recommended she be charged under the Immigration Act and unlawful assembly, which carries a maximum two-year jail term. But on Friday night she was suddenly released on bail.
“It was a big surprise. I didn't believe it until I had changed out of my purple jail uniform,” Lowrey told NZN. “I felt very strong the whole week because I knew there were vigils all over Australia and Malaysia for me. I have a lot of people to thank.”
therakyatpost.com
The lack of transparency around Lowrey's detention had concerned lawyers and NGOs; they had collected more than 15,000 signatures on a petition to free her. She has her passport back and plans to leave Malaysia next week. But before she goes she hopes to spend a few days in the area that inspired her to campaign against the Lynas plant.
theguardian.com
On Saturday Lowrey said: “I feel very strongly that Australian companies have to be accountable for their actions overseas. I will continue to show solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of Malaysians who want Lynas to leave.”
therakyatpost.com
Natalie Lowrey, an Australian resident born in New Zealand, was arrested on 22 June after taking part in a protest demanding the Australian-owned Lynas Corporation to shut down their rare earth mining plant in Kuantan
Australian Natalie Lowrey (left) has been denied bail and may be charged in court for taking part in an illegal protest
Image via themalaysianinsider.comNatalie Lowrey, a New Zealand citizen and permanent resident of Australia living in Bondi, was arrested on Sunday outside of a rare earth processing plant in the eastern state of Pahang. The plant near Kuantan began operating last year and is owned by the Australian company Lynas Corporation, but environmental activists claim it produces toxic waste.
theguardian.com
Natalie was arrested along with 15 Malaysian citizens during the 1,000-strong protest. The Malaysians were released, but Natalie remains in jail while the public prosecutor decides whether to charge or deport her.
A police spokesman said two charges were being considered. She could be charged with "joining an illegal assembly knowing it has been commanded to disperse", which carries a penalty of up to two years in jail, or a fine, or both. The other possible charge is a visa breach.
A witness said Natalie was sitting down when police arrested her
Footage shot by journalist Damian Baker shows protesters taking part in a peaceful bike ride before forming a barricade of people, cars and tyres at the entrance to the plant. Protesters are seen sitting, standing, and holding placards. A protester tells police it is “up to citizens” to decide whether they wanted the plant or not. At one point, a scuffle breaks out.
theguardian.com
Natalie is shown sitting with protesters when police approach and arrest people without force. Protesters gather outside the police station after the arrests, lighting candles on the footpath. One holds a sign saying “They Beat Us”. All the detained protesters except Lowrey were released on bail early on Monday.
theguardian.com
Police, however, said protesters refused to move on and thus they had no choice but to arrest them
“I warned the protesters they had 10 minutes to move on, but they did not move,” The district police chief, assistant commissioner Abdul Aziz Salleh, told Guardian Australia. “I told them it was illegal.”
“What [Lowrey] did was illegal because under our law it is illegal to be involved in any public assembly without permission,” Abdul Aziz said. “Secondly, she is a foreigner who was approved to come into this country for other reasons, not to protest.”
theguardian.com
While Natalie was not harmed, one of the arrested protesters ended up in intensive care suffering broken ribs and head injuries after Malaysian police used batons on him
Abdul Aziz said only one protester went to hospital, that the injuries he sustained were not serious, and that police had no choice but to use force. “He was injured after he retaliated against police,” Abdul Aziz said. “In fact he was very violent. There was a lot of commotion, but no serious injuries.”
theguardian.com
On 26 June, the district police chief, assistant commissioner Abdul Aziz Salleh, told Guardian Australia the police investigation into Lowrey was complete
“There are two very wrong and obvious things she has done,” Abdul Aziz said. “We have recommended that she be charged under the Immigration Act, and that she also be charged for unlawful assembly. The decision is now with the Attorney General Department, who are considering their next steps.” He confirmed the latter charge carried a maximum two-year jail term, a fine, or both.
theguardian.com
An Australian environmental activist, Tully McIntyre, said police had confiscated Natalie's phone
She said when Lowrey was first arrested, police had told them she would go to court the following day and be immediately deported. That court appearance never happened.
theguardian.com
McIntyre has been allowed to visit Natalie a couple of times, and said she was extremely worried for her friend
“Nat said she is still going OK. It is draining [for her] being contained in the cell with the 24-hour fluorescent lights and camera surveillance. It does make her feel stronger knowing there is so much global support behind her.
“She did say that this isn't just about her and felt compelled to sit down with the other protesters at that time as there was something in her heart that told her do it.”
theguardian.com
On 27 June, Fellow activists gathered outside Lynas's headquarters in Sydney to show their support for Natalie and to call on Malaysia to release her
Among them was Holly Creenaune, who has known Lowrey for 10 years. “I spoke to a friend of hers over there with her this morning, and she is still being held and doesn’t know what she is being charged with,” Creenaune said.
theguardian.com
Tully McIntyre, a fellow activist in Malaysia with Lowrey, says she is now able to phone home and is being treated well. “Natalie is a strong woman, she really is, and she is aware of the worst case scenario,” McIntyre said. Malaysian-based environmental activists held a candlelight vigil for Lowrey on Thursday night.
dailymail.co.ukThe Australian government said it would not comment on Natalie's case. She faces two years in jail if charged and found guilty.
“As Ms Lowrey is a New Zealand citizen, we have no on-the-record comment on this matter,” a spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on Friday in response to questions about what support, if any, the Australian government could offer.
theguardian.com
A petition calling for Natalie's release has over 14,000 signatures at the time of publishing this story
An online petition has been set up calling for the release of Australian environmental activist Natalie Lowrey who was swept up in a police clampdown on an anti-Lynas rally outside its rare earth plant in Gebeng, Pahang. At the time of writing, over 14k individuals have signed the petition hosted on Community Petitions, a crowd-source tool that is part of the online community, Avaaz.org.
themalaymailonline.com
“We, therefore, appeal to the Malaysian Government and the police to immediately release her, drop all charges against her and allow her to return to Australia safely,” said the petition, which is addressed to Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The petition was created by a user called Hemantha W, from Sri Lanka.
Protests against the Lynas Corporation have been taking place for the past three years
There are about 700,000 people living within 30km of the plant, which is near coastal tourist resorts and an environmentally sensitive fishery area. Environmental campaigners have been calling for the Malaysian plant to close since it began operating in 2012.
theguardian.com