A rebel Regiment conscript who launched a hunger strike early this year has filed a writ against the Deputy Governor Tim Gurney and the Chairman of the Regiment Exemptions Tribunal Wendell Hollis.

Royal Gazette business reporter Magnus Henagulph refused food for two days in January after he was jailed for disobeying orders when he attended Warwick Camp against his will.

His protest ended when he was released following a private hearing in Supreme Court.

Mr. Henagulph was forced to attend camp after failing in his efforts to be classified as a conscientious objector before the Exemptions Tribunal and later before the Deputy Governor (acting in the capacity of Governor).

Yesterday, Mr. Henagulph said he preferred not to comment on the writ at this stage as the matter is pending before the court.

"Basically, we are challenging the erroneous decisions made by the Exemption Tribunal and the Acting Governor," he said.

If Mr. Henagulph had been classified as a conscientious objector, amendments to the Defence Act passed in 1998 would have allowed him to undertake a period of community service with St. John Ambulance, St. George's Fire Brigade or the Reserve Police rather than traditional military service with Regiment.

Yesterday, tribunal chairman Wendell Hollis also declined to comment specifically on the writ, saying he had yet to receive a copy.

"We made a decision and he had the right to appeal that decision to the Governor," Mr. Hollis said. "He exercised that right and I haven't heard about it since."

Mr. Hollis said that on average the tribunal deals with 25 to 30 people each year seeking exemptions and roughly 80 percent of those are successful in having Regiment duties waived.

The majority of those cases are education or work related, however, he added, and perhaps only ten percent of those who go before the tribunal claim they are conscientious objectors.

Mr. Hollis said the tribunal - which sits with at least three members - strictly applies the criteria set out in the Defence Act in making its decisions on exemptions.