Another seven detainees held under the Internal Security Act have joined the hunger strike to demand for their early release, the Anti-ISA Movement (GMI) said this afternoon.

"We have information that the detainees who have joined the strike are two Malaysians, four Sri Lankans and one Indian national, bringing the total number on strike to nine," GMI secretariat member Syukri Razab said.

The seven join detainees Fadzullah Abdul Razak and Razali Kassan, who started their hunger strike last Thursday.

NONE "(The duo) are reportedly in weak condition as they have only consumed water in the past six days," Syukri said in a statement.

He said Fadzullah has also been kept in solitary confinement , apart from other detainees at the Kamunting detention camp for the past two months, for unknown reasons.

“GMI objects to any form of abuse by the camp officials on detainees who are on hunger strike. They should not be separated or punished through solitary confinement,” Syukri said.

Fadzullah last month took part in a hunger strike for freedom with a group of detainees, some of whom fasted for a week.

The detainees broke their fast with a team from the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), which visited the detention centre upon being informed of the hunger strike.

Suhakam is currently in talks with the Home Ministry on the status of the detainees.

Demonstration of solidarity

Syukri said that in meetings with their family members, the detainees had expressed “disappointment” with the Home Ministry for not paying heed to their demands to be released.

“In meetings with their family members, the detainees have demanded to be released immediately or to be charged in a court of law,” he said.

To support the detainees, he said, GMI will hold a solidarity demonstration in front of Parliament building on Thursday to demand that the home minister responds quickly to those on strike.

“We will also demand an explanation on the (alleged) torture endured by the detainees,” Syukri said.

There are currently 45 detainees serving out detention orders under the ISA, which will only be repealed once the new Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill 2012 is gazetted as law.

The government has said the detainees would have to serve out their detention orders even after the Bill is gazetted, because Section 32 of the Bill states that any order made under the ISA will still be valid unless it is cancelled by the home minister.

The last of the detainees is expected to be released in January 2014.