Mary Braun, 67, and Tina Zmaeff, 63, are on the 71st day of a hunger strike that was interrupted briefly by intravenous nutrients each of the women were given for 24 hours.

Zmaeff and Braun have long criminal records for arson, an act they commit because of the Doukhobor belief that fire is a spiritual cleanser. They don't believe the government has the power to incarcerate them, so they starve themselves as a protest of their imprisonment.

This is the longest hunger strike Braun and Zmaeff have been on in their decades-old history of incarceration and fasting.

CASTLEGAR - An emergency meeting begins here today between members of the Doukhobor community and federal and provincial officals to discuss what can be done to save two Freedomite Doukhobor women who are starving themselves to death in Matsqui prison.

Mary Braun, 67, and Tina Zmaeff, 63, are on the 71st day of a hunger strike that was interrupted briefly by intravenous nutrients each of the women were given for 24 hours.

Braun was in Mission hospital over the weekend, but was returned to Matsqui Sunday after refusing to accept more intravenous treatment, corrections spokesman Dianne Brown said.

"In their minds they haven't broken their fast because they haven't taken anything by mouth," Brown said. "Medically, they did accept vitamins for 24 hours."

She said both women remain lucid and conscious, though bed-ridden. Their condition is described as "serious, but stable." Both are continually being told by prison staff that they will die if they continue to refuse food.

Today's meeting was requested by the Freedomite community in Gilpin, near Grand Forks.

"Everybody says that jail is not the answer for them," Freedomite Laura Savinkoff said Monday. "But no one is doing anything and they are dying. They are not going to live much longer."

'Important women'

Zmaeff and Braun have long criminal records for arson, an act they commit because of the Doukhobor belief that fire is a spiritual cleanser. They don't believe the government has the power to incarcerate them, so they starve themselves as a protest of their imprisonment.

Savinkoff said the community of Gilpin, which numbers about 50 people in rambling shacks, is building "a monastery-like" communal building they hope will house the women if federal officials permit it.

"They are important women spiritually," Savinkoff said.

The Reformed Doukhobor community of Krestova, which is opposed to the more radical acts of the Freedomites, made an application for the women's parole, but was turned down because they are considered "a risk to the community" by the National Parole Board.

Parole board regional manager Fraser Simmons said though community support is strong for the release of the women, there is no indication they have changed their minds about their criminal ways.

Pair's longest fast

But friends of the women, like Marilyn Smoch, say they won't denounce their behavior because they believe it's inspired by God.

This is the longest hunger strike Braun and Zmaeff have been on in their decades-old history of incarceration and fasting.

Because of a 1983 B.C. Court of Appeal decision saying it is unethical to force-feed the women, the position of Corrections Canada is to monitor them, but allow them to continue their fast.

Neither will allow doctors to examine them, so it's difficult to know how much permanent damage their bodies have suffered.

They are currently serving eight-year sentences for burning a building near Castlegar in 1985. Their targets are usually Doukhobor museums because they do not believe in icons to their religion.

Both women could have permanent nerve damage and some blindness, said Victoria physician Dr. Doug Roberts, who force-fed the women during a 1983 fast.