Naked trekkers offer apology
Petersen siblings say they didn’t know mountain was sacred
REGINA — The Saskatchewan siblings who were jailed in Malaysia for posing naked atop the country’s highest mountain have issued an apology, saying they had no idea how sacred the summit was.
“During our personal trekking experience, we were not made aware of the sacredness of the mountain,” Danielle Petersen of Wood Mountain, Sask., wrote on Facebook.
“The contents of our hearts and everything else that was laid bare during our summit experience, were a reflection of the exuberance and joy we felt for our achievement of climbing the tallest peak in South East Asia; there was absolutely no ill intent.”
Danielle and her brother, Lindsey Petersen, were among 10 international trekkers who stripped naked and took photos on Malaysia’s Mount Kinabalu on May 30. They were jailed and then deported last week.
A local official said their behaviour was disrespectful to the mountain, which is believed to be sacred, and caused an earthquake on June 5 that killed 18 climbers.
On her Facebook page, Danielle wrote she and her brother are “deeply sorry for offending the local indigenous people of the Mount Kinabalu region.”
The Petersens arrived in Regina late Sunday.
While they were being detained in Malaysia, their family was unwilling to comment on what was happening. Their father, Floyd, had expressed frustration toward what he saw as extravagant and unnecessary media attention toward his son and daughter.
Danielle’s Facebook page is not public, so the apology can be seen only by those allowed access to her page.
“The ‘Dynamic Duo’ also wish to express gratitude to everyone who supported us in every way during this ordeal; to our security, a quick trial and a safe return home. This is an experience that we have learned from and will never forget,” reads the post. The statement ends with a quote from Mark Twain: “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.”
Last week, the Petersens, as well as Dutch citizen Dylan Snel and British student Eleanor Hawkins, appeared before a Malaysian court, where they were fined the equivalent of about $1,600 each and sentenced to three days in jail, time they had served since they had come into custody last Tuesday.
“They were remorseful and regretted their act, and offered a public apology during mitigation,” their lawyer, Ronny Cham, said, according to Canadian Press. The court heard the women were topless while the two men were nude on a dare to weather the cold morning, mountain air.
Hawkins issued a public apology to the people of Malaysia after returning home to England over the weekend. She said on Sunday that she knows her actions had been wrong.
“I know my behaviour was foolish and I know how much offence we all caused to the local people of Sabah. For that, I am truly sorry,” she said.
“Theywere remorseful and regretted their act, and offered a public apology during mitigation.
RONNY CHAM LAWYER FOR THE PETERSENS