Activists protest detentions

Activists protest detentions

MALAYSIA: Five Malaysian opposition activists accused of
conspiring against Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's government
began fasting in a prison camp on Monday to protest their
detention without trial since April, relatives said.

The activists, mostly senior officials of the National Justice
Party, were demanding their immediate release from Kamunting
camp, about 250 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur, said Bahirah
Tajul Aris, the wife of detainee Ezam Mohamad Noor.

The fasting comes three days after the Justice Party's
figurehead, jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim,
ended a similar hunger strike after one week.

Anwar began his fast to protest a court's deferment of his
appeal against a corruption conviction. The fast ended Saturday
after the court set Feb. 4 for the hearing. --AP