Hunger strikers at Taman Melewar in Kuala Lumpur and Keadilan leaders have struck a discord over the continuation of their hunger strike.
Former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim requested the group to discontinue the strike for fear they may put their health at risk if they prolong the campaign. About a dozen people are still staging the hunger strike, now in its 10th day, outside PAS headquarters in Taman Melewar in Kuala Lumpur.
Anwars request was relayed Wednesday by his wife and Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to FreeAnwar.com webmaster Raja Petra Kamaruddin, a former ISA detainee and spokeperson for the strikers.
The request apparently annoyed the strikers who lashed out at the party leadership for asking them to stop. In the ensuing argument, Raja Petra was said to have left in a huff after exchanging heated words with Wan Azizah and deputy president Abdul Rahman Othman. He later returned when his fellow hunger strikers appealed to him.
The hunger strike would go on with or without the party leaders endorsement and some even threatened to leave the party if they are forced to end their hunger strike, Raja Petra said today.
Rebellion
Wan Azizah and the party leaders were caught by surprise. They now have a rebellion on their hands. The hunger strikers slammed the party leaders — even Wan Azizah was not spared — and practically told the party leaders to go to hell.
The group is insisting on continuing their hunger strike to press for the release or court trial of the six Keadilan and reformasi activists held under the draconian Internal Security Act in the Kamunting Dentention Centre in Taiping, Perak.
Party leaders Tian Chua, Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, Saari Sungib, Dr Badrulamin Bahron, Lokman Nor Adam and malaysiakini columnist-cum-film maker Hishamuddin Rais are being held under a two-year detention order for the alleged involvement in a militant attempt to overthrow the government.
The six have also been on hunger strike since April 10 to mark the first anniversary of their incarceration and to demand that they be released or tried in open court.
At a meeting last night, Wan Azizah told the hunger strikers that Anwars request was to safeguard their health but the Taman Melewar hungers strikers remained adamant.
Even the party and the party president could not get them to end the hunger strike, Raja Petra said.
Weakening but still determined
He said the hunger strikers were weakening but still resolute in carrying on with the hunger strike.
Meanwhile, events took an unexpected twist on Wednesday when Wan Azizah announced in a press conference that Anwar had requested that the six ISA detainees in Kamunting also end their hunger strike for healths sake.
Abolish ISA Movement activists and family members who are monitoring the campaign at Kamunting said that the six are also insisting on continuing with the hunger strike despite Anwars pleas.
Two of them, Badrul and Hishamuddin, are now on intravenous drips after they were admitted into the centres infirmary on Wednesday night following complaints of cramps.
