Hunger strikers vow to continue action

JAKARTA (JP): Following the withdrawal of two of their colleagues, the four remaining students on hunger strike at the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) compound vowed on Monday to continue with their hunger strikes until a number of detained students be released.

National University (Unas) student Mona, one of the four remaining hunger strikers, told The Jakarta Post that two other hunger strikers, Andy Mayer from Sahid University and Dedi from the State Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN) Ciputat, Jakarta, had halted their action on Saturday due to deteriorating health.

"According to the doctors at the Indonesian Christian University Hospital (in East Jakarta), if the two continued with the strike there would be serious problems with their stomachs.

"We will continue with our action until all of our detained friends are released," she said.

Their detained colleagues are Mixil Mina Munir, an IAIN student, Arief, a student from the Computer and Information Technology Institute (STI&K) and Miftahudin, the driver of a public minivan plying the Ciputat-Pondok Labu route. They were arrested following a fuel price hike protest in Ciputat last month.

Besides Mona, the other three remaining hunger strikers are Rey from the Indonesian Christian University (UKI), Ardi from the Jakarta Theological High School (STTJ) and Buyung from the Alliance of Students and Youth (APPR).

They have been on hunger strike since June 29, demanding the release of their fellow activists from police detention.

All the hunger strikers and also the detainees are members of City Forum (Forkot).

A team of doctors is conducting regular health checks on the hunger strikers. (01)