Despite a warning that they would not be allowed visitors, the six hunger-striking Internal Security Act detainees were permitted to meet one of their legal advisors at the Kamunting Detention Centre in Perak today.

However, apart from lawyer M Kulasegaran, the centres authorities barred two other lawyers medically unfit.

The detainees began their hunger strike yesterday to mark the first anniversary of their detention and to demand that they be released or charged in an open court.

The other four detainees are Keadilan leaders Tian Chua, Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, Saari Sungib and Lokman Noor Adam.

The six were arrested for allegedly planing to overthrow the government through militant means and are currently serving a two-year detention at Kamunting.

Following their decision to stage the hunger strike, it was reported that the centres authorities had warned them not to carry it out or risk being denied visits from family members and lawyers.

Doctor secretive

According to Kulasegaran a doctor had checked the detainees blood pressure this morning but did not reveal the readings.

Ezam said Badrul has high fever, his blood pressure is very high and he has lost 2kg in 24 hours. Hishamuddin is suffering from a severe migraine since yesterday, said the lawyer.

He added that the detainees were also puzzled as to why the doctor who examined them earlier was unresponsive and secretive about their condition.

The six also urged the authorities to be neutral and allow all the detainees access to their medical reports, said Kulasegaran who is also DAP deputy secretary-general.

Meanwhile, Cheah lambasted the government for detaining the six under the controversial security law.

Their detention is a violation of the Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, said the lawyer who is also Penang Keadilan chief.

The fact is the ISA has been used as a tool for political oppression, he added.

Echoing a similar viewpoint was Gooi.The detention is not only oppressive but disgraceful as well, he said.

The Penang Keadilan legal advisor also criticised the Kamunting authorities decision to bar them from meeting the detainees and for not even allowing them to talk to the officials there.

Not allowing us in is bad enough but not permitting us to use the intercom to talk to the centres officials is too much.

Not wanting to give us the telephone number of the camp commandant (Abdul Basir Muhamad) is even worse, he lamented.

A violation

A malaysiakini report earlier quoted Deputy Home Affairs Minister Chor Chee Hueng as saying that the hunger strike was a violation of the detention centres regulations and procedures.

Chor said the Home Affairs Ministry would monitor the developments but conceded that the action was the detainees personal choice.

Asked if action would be taken against the detainees, the deputy minister said it was at the discretion of the centres authorities.

Under the ISA, it is stipulated that detainees who refuse without any reasonable excuse to eat the food provided in the place of detention are construed as committing an offence.

Those found guilty can be confined in a punishment cell and be deprived of food, visitors, books or clothing.

Yesterday, opposition leaders and reformasi supporters handed a memorandum endorsed by 82 organisations to the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) urging it to secure the detainees release.

The detainees families, friends and supporters are also staging a hunger strike outside the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.