Immigration: Anti-Lynas activist not mistreated
Published: Sep 3, 2014 10:00 AM | Updated: Sep 3, 2014 10:20 AM
The Department of Immigration has denied mistreating New Zealand anti-Lynas activist Natalie Lowrey while deporting her from Malaysia.
The Department of Immigration has denied mistreating New Zealand anti-Lynas activist Natalie Lowrey while deporting her from Malaysia.
“The Department of Immigration wishes to state that she (Lowrey) was well-treated throughout her custody under the immigration department, and deny claims by a news portal that she was treated badly while waiting to be sent back to Bali, Indonesia,” said Immigration director-general Aloyah Mamat in a statement today.
Previously, Malaysiakini had quoted Lowrey’s lawyer, Farhana Halim (right), saying that Lowrey was not provided food or water while waiting for deportation.
However, Aloyah said that this was AirAsia’s responsibility, while immigration department officials had processed her deportation in accordance to its standard operating procedures.
“AirAsia Airlines is responsible to arrange for her return flight as well as her food and beverage while she waits for her plane,” she said.
Lowrey was denied entry into the country from Bali on August 31 after being blacklisted by the police, and was given a not-to-land (NTL) notice under Section 8 of the Immigration Act 1959/1963 upon arrival.
The Australian permanent resident was not told the reason for being denied entry, but it is believed to be for her involvement in the ‘Shutdown Lynas’ protest held on June 22.
The immigration department added the reason Lowrey was sent back to Bali instead of Sydney despite her request for the latter destination was in accordance to international procedures.
“Based on international procedures, those who are denied entry into a country are to be deported back to the departure airport of their flight into the country, and not to another country,” she said.
“The Department of Immigration wishes to state that she (Lowrey) was well-treated throughout her custody under the immigration department, and deny claims by a news portal that she was treated badly while waiting to be sent back to Bali, Indonesia,” said Immigration director-general Aloyah Mamat in a statement today.
Previously, Malaysiakini had quoted Lowrey’s lawyer, Farhana Halim (right), saying that Lowrey was not provided food or water while waiting for deportation.However, Aloyah said that this was AirAsia’s responsibility, while immigration department officials had processed her deportation in accordance to its standard operating procedures.
“AirAsia Airlines is responsible to arrange for her return flight as well as her food and beverage while she waits for her plane,” she said.
Lowrey was denied entry into the country from Bali on August 31 after being blacklisted by the police, and was given a not-to-land (NTL) notice under Section 8 of the Immigration Act 1959/1963 upon arrival.
The Australian permanent resident was not told the reason for being denied entry, but it is believed to be for her involvement in the ‘Shutdown Lynas’ protest held on June 22.
The immigration department added the reason Lowrey was sent back to Bali instead of Sydney despite her request for the latter destination was in accordance to international procedures.
“Based on international procedures, those who are denied entry into a country are to be deported back to the departure airport of their flight into the country, and not to another country,” she said.
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