A environmental campaigner charged with the murder of Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn in May has started a hunger strike in the Amsterdam jail where he is held, the public prosecutor's office said today.
Mr Volkert van der Graaf (32) has refused to eat since Thursday evening in protest at his treatment, said Mr Robert Meulenbroek, spokesman for the Amsterdam public prosecutor. Drinking water is not part of Mr Van der Graaf's strike.
"His lawyer has notified us about" the hunger strike, said Mr Meulenbroek, who added that Mr Van der Graaf's complaints include camera surveillance and the lights being kept on 24 hours a day.
The Ministry of Justice, responsible for the 24-hour surveillance of Van der Graaf, was not immediately available for comment.
Fortuyn (54) a rightist populist, was shot dead on May 6th, just days before general elections in the Netherlands.
Mr Van der Graaf was arrested within minutes of the slaying and has declined to make any statements.
Mr Meulenbroek said prosecutors would announce next week when Mr Van der Graaf will make his first court appearance.