Press Statement by
Wong Tack
Chairperson, Himpunan Hijau
25 February 2018
On 8th July 2014, I together with 14 other green comrades were charged under the Penal Code Act for protesting in front of the toxic radioactive Lynas plant on 22nd June 2014 during Himpunan Hijau’s Shut down Lynas campaign.
Five of us were accused of rioting, with one being slapped with an additional charge of using criminal force to obstruct the duty of a police officer. Ten of us, including myself were charged for failing to disperse in an illegal assembly.
The punishment for these offenses carries an imprisonment term of up to two years or a fine or both.
For almost 4 years, the fifteen of us from across the country were forced to leave our jobs and beloved families to attend the trial in Kuantan.
The pace of the trial had accelerated recently. According to the judge, the HQ is monitoring our case closely and had given directive to conclude the case as soon as possible.
Is it fair to treat us like criminals when the real law violator ‘Lynas’ is given a free hand to do whatever they want on our land?
Is there justice when those who got charged for rioting are not the police, whom in fact are the ones who started the chaos and beat up innocent people?
The trial will continue on 27 & 28 February 2018. I will take the witness stand on the second day, the 28th.
Let’s continue to march forward and fight on. Hidup HIJAU!