Hunger striker vows to fast ‘as long as required’
CHRISTCHURCH man Peter Glasson is feeling weak and suffering constant stomach pains on the fifth day of his hunger strike, but he is determined to ‘‘go the full distance’’ with the stand over his Southern Response insurance claim.
Glasson has not eaten since midnight on Monday and has vowed not to break the hunger strike until Southern Response settles his insurance claim.
‘‘It is absolutely continuing. I will continue for as long as required,’’ he said yesterday.
‘‘I am a wee bit weaker and lighter. I am losing about a kilogram a day. I am a wee bit light headed. I get hunger pangs all the time.’’
He said that Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Megan Woods had asked for his case to be referred to the Residential Advisory Service, a body that helps Cantabrians settle insurance claims on earthquakedamaged homes.
‘‘We signed an agreement to undertake that alternative process yesterday,’’ he said.
‘‘We want our insurance claim settled quickly and fairly. The High Court process is very slow and it will mean we are stuck in court until another year from now.’’
The Christchurch man is among hundreds of homeowners with earthquake-related claims that are still unresolved with the insurer, seven years on from the Canterbury earthquakes.
Since launching legal proceedings against Southern Response two years ago, Glasson has been spied on by the agency, sign-written an anti-insurance car in protest and has countless documents detailing his battle.
He has been drinking water, green tea and 1.5 litres of electrolytes every day. He also takes a multivitamin tablet.
‘‘We didn’t see any other option. I am determined to go the full distance if required and we all know the final result of hunger strikes,’’ he said.
‘‘Southern Response are calling my bluff ... They need to know I am serious.’’
Glasson said his online research showed it can take between 20 to 60 days to die on a hunger strike.