Hunger strike ends in RP

Hunger strike ends in RP

MANILA (UPI): Philippine prisoners have ended their two-month
hunger strike, declaring their protest a victory after the recent
release of 48 fellow inmates they claim were jailed primarily for
political reasons.

Task Force Detainees of the Philippines said yesterday that
efforts to gain the release of 130 other prisoners it believes
are held on similar grounds will continue.

The end of the hunger strike comes days after President Fidel
Ramos ordered the release of 19 prisoners. Another 29 inmates
were freed after courts, under pressure from protests, expedited
action on their cases.

Some 119 inmates stopped eating last November to demand the
freedom of an estimated 179 political detainees held in jails
across the country.