Hunger strikers vow to continue action

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)