Crowds marching towards Himpunan Hijau site8:32AM Feb 26, 2012...

Crowds marching towards Himpunan Hijau site
8:32AM Feb 26, 2012
It's a sunny morning in Kuantan where a growing number of people are gathering to oppose the construction of a rare earth refinery nearby, which they fear will pose radioactive risks.

The rally - dubbed Himpunan Hijau 2.0 (Green Gathering 2.0) - seeks to gather 20,000 people from all over the country at the Kuantan Municipal Council field.

Pakatan Rakyat's top leaders have also pledged to attend the event, in protest of the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (Lamp).

In a nod to the newly passed Peaceful Assembly Act 2011, the police have sanctioned the rally, albeit at the eleventh hour, and imposed 12 conditions. Rally organisers have agreed to the conditions.

The two-hour event is suppose to kick off at 10am.

Live reports follows:

8.32am: Almost 1,000 people, mostly clad in the symbolic green, have gathered on MPK4 field and more are trickling in.

Some activist from out of state are gathering at several nearby hotels.

The mood is jovial at the entrance of the Megaview Hotel where Bersih 2.0 leaders are leading a crowd in singing Suara Rakyat.

National laureate A Samad Said, who is scheduled to recite a poem later, is also spotted in the crowd.

8.50am: Himpunan Hijau steering committee chairperson Wong Tack told Malaysiakini that a group is gathering at MPK1 field. At 9am, the group will depart towards MPK4.
They are expected to be joined by another crowd that will march from the Kuantan market.

8.55am: The Megaview Hotel crowd being led by Bersih 2.0 leaders are marching towards MPK4 field.

They are mostly clad in Himpunan Hijau 2.0 t-shirts or green coloured garbs.

Some of them are holding placards and banners to protest against the Lynas plant. Yesterday, the police said they would not bar them from doing so.

8.58am: Festivities is already underway at the MPK4 field with activists from Jingga 13, a PKR-linked NGO, is performing a sketh mocking Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob.

"As menteri besar how much will you offer me for your factory?," said one acter.

Another man, dressed to look like an engineer with the words "Lynas" across his back responded: "RM700million!"

"Wow! I accept! I'm going to London," replied the 'menteri besar'.

9.00am: The crowd is swelling at MPK4, estimated at 1,500 with the latest group of balloon-wielding protestors.

Police presence appears moderate, numbering at about 100, backed by two sniffer dogs. A police helicopter was seen hovering near the field.

9.10am: While it is bright and sunny at Kuantan, it is a wet and soggy experience for some 30 activists who are holding a solidarity rally under the rain in Jalan Song, Kuching.

This is one of several solidarity rallies that are simultaneously being held in several major towns across the country.

9.13am: About 1,000 people are marching from the Kuantan wet market towards MPK4 field. This is the biggest march thus far.

This crowd is proceeding towards the field quietly but they are met by a cacophony of horn blaring and cheers by passing vehicles.

9.15am: The crowd at the MPK4 has easily grown beyond 2,000 people. It is a festive atmosphere with groups chanting slogans sporadically while others stage various performances.

9.20am: "Stop Lynas" and "Hancur (Destroy) Lynas" are popular slogans.