Australian Tamil Hunger Striker Returns from hospital to Continue Protest. In his 106th hour of fasting without water, 27 year old Sutha Thanabalasingam was rushed via ambulance to Canberra Hospital after blood tests conducted by volunteer doctors at the protest revealed significant signs of muscle breakdown, a precursor to kidney failure. Mathi and Theepan the other two who started the hunger strike on last saturday also had concerning blood results but were not as severe.
 
The boys who had been refusing blood tests, were coerced into agreeing after Sutha in particular started complaining of severe stomach aches, muscle cramps, nausea and fluctuating levels of consciousness.
 
The Australian Tamil community spent over 90 minutes urging Sutha, who was initially determined to continue without water, to seek medical help. After discussion with is fellow hunger strikers, all three boys from Sydney took their first sip of water at 10.20PM. “We embarked on this journey together so I felt I had to talk to them about this first,” he said.
 
Whilst at hospital, Sutha received fluids intravenously but did not receive any further medical intervention. Within 5 hours of commencement of treatment, he had returned to the park to continue his protest.
 
Sutha states the main reason he decided to consume water was because of his friend’s plea: “Sutha, we have already lost thousands back home, and there are so many being killed now as we speak. We cannot bear to lose another Tamil here, right before our eyes, trying to save them.”
 
“People kept telling me I have to be alive and well to tell the Australian public and politicians my story,” Sutha explained.