On Jan. 30 this year, the parole board granted [Tina Zmaeff] full parole following a 90-day hunger strike she undertook with [Mary Braun]. But [Dianne Brown] said Zmaeff "refused to take it" because the parole board had turned down Braun.

In their decades-old history of imprisonment and fasting, Braun and Zmaeff were granted federal pardons in 1983 following a lengthy hunger strike with fellow Freedomite Mary Astaforoff. Astaforoff, 71, died in November 1985 after fasting for 54 days. An autopsy showed she also had stomach cancer.

Two Sons of Freedom Doukhobors who hold the record for the longest hunger strike in a Canadian penitentiary are into the 21st day of another fast.

Mary Braun, 68, and Tina Zmaeff, 64, began their recent hunger strike in Matsqui medium-security prison because they believe legal "machinery is moving too slowly for their release," said corrections spokesman Dianne Brown.

The Freedomites - who have been on numerous fasts and moving in and out of prison on parole during the past 15 months - have been granted another hearing April 26 at which they'll seek full parole.

Asked why the women have been granted another hearing, National Parole Board spokesman Ron Boucher said he is only able to say "new information has come forward."

Originally imprisoned on arson charges, Brown said the Kootenay women want their freedom "because they do not believe they have committed a crime."

On Jan. 30 this year, the parole board granted Zmaeff full parole following a 90-day hunger strike she undertook with Braun. But Brown said Zmaeff "refused to take it" because the parole board had turned down Braun.

Reasons for parole decisions are not generally released. However, in September last year Braun burned down a house she had been staying in while on parole in the Kootenays.

The two women are serving sentences of more than 10 years each for burning a building near Castlegar in 1985. Freedomites believe burning material possessions acts as a spiritual cleanser.

The women ended their record fast of 107 days in December 1987 after learning they had been granted day parole. During the fast, they drank only water with lemon juice.

In their decades-old history of imprisonment and fasting, Braun and Zmaeff were granted federal pardons in 1983 following a lengthy hunger strike with fellow Freedomite Mary Astaforoff. Astaforoff, 71, died in November 1985 after fasting for 54 days. An autopsy showed she also had stomach cancer.