Six reformasi activists who are being held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) today said they will hold a hunger strike with family members and supporters to protest the one-year anniversary of their arrest.

The six It is the governments responsibility to accede to both these demands, because they are reasonable and are in accordance with the principles and spirit of human rights and also with the Malaysian Federal Constitution, they said.

The reformasi activists also said the effort to pressure the government to grant Anwar medical treatment will be continued by supporters from the international community.

The Malaysian government is coming under increasing pressure from foreign organisations and governments which recognise him (Anwar) as the victim of a political conspiracy, that is, a political prisoner, said the so-called ISA Six.

Last month, a coalition of US-based religious investors and the German Federation of Trade Unions urged the government to release the detainees and expressed their concern over allegations of ill-treatment, amounting to torture, of the detainees.

Kamunting gathering

Meanwhile, the Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) and family members of the detainees are organising a series of actions to bring attention to the hunger strike.

A letter was sent by family members and lawyers of the detainees to Home Affairs Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday to announce the commencement of the protest action.

GMI will also be submitting a memorandum to Suhakam and organising a gathering at the Kamunting camp on April 10 to mark the launch of the hunger strike.

Anwar is currently serving a 15-year-jail term on charges of corruption and sodomy. He is suffering from severe back ache and wants to seek treatment overseas, a move which the government opposes.