He was in Jeli. Kelantan. She in Putrajaya, on a hunger strike outside the Internal Security Ministry. The husband made an attempt to see his wife but it was futile...

A Balakrishnan, entering his 21st day of a hunger strike to protest his restricted residence order, was arrested at the Pengkalan Chepa airport in Kelantan by police when he tried to board a flight to Kuala Lumpur to visit his sickly wife, who was on a joint hunger strike with him.

Lawyer B Vijian said his client had insisted on visiting his wife, M Rukumani Devi, despite knowing any such attempt would be in violation of his restricted residence order to Jeli, Kelantan.

Rukumani however, who was staging a hunger strike outside the Internal Security Ministry's headquarters at Putrajaya, was persuaded to give it up late last night. The couple have been on hunger strike since Nov 30. They are protesting Balakrishnan's banishment and want Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to listen to their plight.

At the Jeli Magistrate's court this morning, Balakrishnan, 36, was accused of breaching his restricted residence order. However, the court ordered that he be sent for a month's medical observation to assess if he is mentally stable. The case will be mentioned again on Jan 25. If found guilty, he can be jailed for between three to five years.

Drinking water

Balakrishnan is presently in a police lockup in Jeli prior to being sent to the Permai hospital in Johor Baru tomorrow.

"I am still unable to convince him to stop his hunger strike. He is spiritually and mentally strong. He just wants to meet the prime minister," said Vijian when contacted.

Meanwhile, at Putrajaya, Rukumani ended her hunger strike after 21 days late last night. She drank small amounts of water and is presently warded at the Kuala Lumpur general hospital.

Her brother-in-law A Thirumoorthy told malaysiakini that she was persuaded to give the strike up by several personalities who visited her in front of the Internal Security Ministry building.

Among those said to have visited Rukumani include former chief justice Mohd Dzaiddin Abdullah (left) and MIC President S Samy Vellu's son, Velpaari.

Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) Commissioner Siva Subramaniam, who also visited her, had advised her that the issue would be better solved through negotiations with the relevant authorities.

"There is a need for her to reconsider her actions. It is a complicated issue as Balakrishnan is comparing himself to the case of (former EO detainee) Koo Tee Yam. Each case on its own is unique," said Siva when asked what transpired during the meeting.

Court's decision

A MIC branch leader in Rawang for the past 11 years, Balakrishnan has denied all charges which led to his arrest under the EO. The ordinance allows detention without trial for up to two years up at the discretion of the internal security minister.

Having being placed three times under the EO, Balakrishnan and his family fear that he might be banished to another state once his two years are up without being given the chance to prove his innocence.

In his charge sheet, he is accused of being the leader of the '08' triad in Rawang and was implicated in numerous gang related crimes.

Both Balakrishnan and Koo obtained court orders for their release from Simpang Renggam but were re-arrested immediately under the same charges.

But Koo, a prominent businessman and alleged leader of a Chinese triad, received prominent media coverage and policy makers called on the authorities to respect the court's decision.

Koo's successful bid for freedom sparked Balakrishnan's hunger strike in his bid for equal treatment.