Strikers taken to hospital

CIREBON, West Java: At least ten students and youths staging a hunger strike in Cirebon, West Java, were rushed to hospitals on Sunday, six days after they started their protest to pressure local prosecutors to investigate alleged malfeasance by local officials.

One of the hunger strikers was Sholahudin Umar, who had been unconscious for more than 12 hours by Monday afternoon.

Sholahudin, who joined the hunger strike on Tuesday last week, was taken to Gunungjati Public hospital on Sunday morning.

Student activist Agung Supirno said four other students had earlier been taken to a number of different hospitals but had since been taken home by family members.

A total of 19 students, youths, and women's activists began their hunger strike on Tuesday to pressure local prosecutors to take action against abuses of the 2001 state budget.

They have vowed to continue their hunger strike until their demands are met.

So far, the local prosecutors office has refused to comment on the students demands. --Antara