Fifteen reformasi supporters embarked on a hunger strike in Kuala Lumpur today in solidarity with the six Internal Security Act detainees who are holding a similar strike at the Kamunting Detention Centre in Perak.

The group which includes the mother of one of the detainees  Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor  are staging the hunger strike outside the PAS headquarters in Gombak.

According to former ISA detainee Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin, the strike, which began at 2pm, was being held to demand the release of the detainees or that they be charged in an open court.

They also want the government to permit jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim to undergo a spinal surgery with a surgeon of his own choice, added Raja Petra.

"However, the government's response is a secondary issue. The important thing is that we are getting the attention of the whole world on the issue of ISA," he told malaysiakini .

The numbers of strikers may vary from day to day but the event may go on indefinitely, added Raja Petra who is also the director of the FreeAnwar Campaign.

Visitation rights

Today marks the first anniversary of the sixs arrest under the controversial security law for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government through militant means, a charge which they have denied.

The six  Keadilan leaders Tian Chua, Ezam, Dr Badrul Amin Bahron, Lokman Nor Adam, Saari Sungib and malaysiakini columnist-cum-film maker Hishammudin Rais  are currently serving a two-year detention at Kamunting.

Last week, the detainees said they will go on a hunger strike beginning today to urge the government to release or charge them for their alleged crimes.

However, their lawyer R Sivarasa claimed that Kamunting officials had warned them not to strike or be denied visits from family members and their lawyers.

It is learnt that other family members of the detainees would also be fasting in solidarity with the six.

Meanwhile, a group of observers from the Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) and family members would station themselves outside the Kamunting centre until Sunday.