Prisoners still on hunger strike

DILI, East Timor (JP): Fourteen political prisoners and detainees entered the fourth day of their hunger strike on Thursday at the Becora jail here.

The fourteen, who began the strike on Aug. 31, are among the 22 political prisoners and detainees held here.

They are demanding the release of resistance leader Jos Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao who is serving a 20-year sentence in Cipinang prison, Jakarta. The head of the prison, Mayun Mataram said doctors were monitoring the strikers' health.

Some of the prisoners on strike were initially given infusions "but on the third day only three still needed infusions, namely Salvador, Mariano and Agostinho," he said.

Prison doctor Bernard Simatupang said the monitoring began on the first day of the strike. (33)