Tina Zmaeff and Mary Braun remain bed-ridden at Matsqui and say they want an unconditional release instead of appearing before the board Dec. 8, Dianne Brown, a Corrections Services of Canada spokesman, said Monday.

Brown said the women's condition remains serious but stable. She said Braun, 67, and Zmaeff, 63, are still refusing all food but are taking adequate amounts of water.

Two Freedomite Doukhobor women on the 99th day of a hunger strike have refused to appear before the National Parole Board because they feel it would be an admission they are criminals.

Tina Zmaeff and Mary Braun remain bed-ridden at Matsqui and say they want an unconditional release instead of appearing before the board Dec. 8, Dianne Brown, a Corrections Services of Canada spokesman, said Monday.

"They don't want parole. They want their freedom because they would still be under some form of supervision for some offence," Brown said.

"As far as they are concerned, they don't think they committed any crimes."

Mike Boire, acting regional parole board manger, said an in-camera hearing is scheduled for Dec. 8.

Boire said he understood the two women had refused to appear before the board but had "no confirmation of that."

He said while the women could choose not to appear before the board, the hearing would still go ahead.

Brown said the women's condition remains serious but stable. She said Braun, 67, and Zmaeff, 63, are still refusing all food but are taking adequate amounts of water.