The Sulu Sultanate is prepared to take their claims over Sabah to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) if Manila fails them.
LAHAD DATU: Irrespective of whether its soldiers are gunned down here or its people are arrested in Manila and thrown into jail, the Sulu sultanate will not budge on its claims over Sabah.
While the Sulu sultanate crown prince Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, who is holed up in Felda Sahabat here along with his more than 200 men army, says going back will be “embarrassing”, his kin in Manila declared that arrest of their entire family in Philippines was “welcome” in response to Manila’s warning of criminal charges.
As at press time, three of Kiram’s men have been shot dead by the Malaysian security forces and four more were said to be injured. The Malaysian armed forces meanwhile lost two soldiers in the exchange.
Despite the threat of a rising death toll, Kiram said he and his followers will stay in the Tanduao villager here “until death” or until negotiations between the Philippine and Malaysian governments over their claims on Sabah is amicably settled.
“We cannot go back to the Philippines, because that will be a great embarrassment on our part. We have already stated our intention in coming here,” he said.
The Sulu sultanate wants a formal agreement over its Sabah claims with Putrajaya. It wants the Philippine government to set aside politics and look after its interest in the agreement. Thus far, this has not happened.
The sultanate’s grounds for the claim is Sulu’s historical links to Sabah, once known as North Borneo.
Sabah was given to the sultanate of Sulu by the sultanate of Brunei due to the former’s help in quelling a rebellion during the 17th century.
In 1878, the sultanate of Sulu leased Sabah to the British North Borneo Company. Britain eventually annexed Sabah in 1946. The disputed territory was then turned over by Britain to the Federation of Malaysia in 1963.
Manila on its part reportedly said the sultanate’s condition is unacceptable.
‘Cover up’
Meanwhile, earlier this morning, Kiram and his men, who have been holed up in Lahad Datu since Feb 9, have been under attack by the Malaysian security forces.
Both governments had initially issued denials over the intensity of the shootouts but ground reports of bodies being carried out of the “warzone” and “instructions” for all shops, banks and schools to shut down have forced responses from the respective authorities and the Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, brother to soldier Kiram.
According to Philippines media reports, Manila had warned the Sulu sultanate that the latter’s army in Sabah faced “possible criminal charges” as a result of its decision to enter a foreign territory while armed.
But the sultanate has vehemently denied entering a “foreign” territory, reiterating that Sabah is its homeland and that if pushed come to shove, its people will come to their rescue.
According to a Malacanang statement, some 800,000 Filipinos are in Sabah.
Meanwhile, Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III’s spokesman Abraham Idjirani said earlier denials by both Malaysian and Philippine officials of death and injuries were just “to cover up the truth”.
He said despite the casualties the sultanate will continue to peacefully pursue its claim over Sabah.
“Bangsa Sulu will not take revenge but would pursue this matter peacefully,” Idjirani said.
He also added that the sultanate is looking at the possibility of taking the matter to the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC). If it does, it wouldn’t be the first time.
When former ousted Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in 1971 and his quarrels with Malaysia over Sabah reached a new pitch, then Malaysian prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman took the opportunity to place the plight of the Moros, represented by the Mindanao National Liberation Front (MNLF), on the agenda of the OIC.
The Tripoli Agreement in Kuala Lumpur in June 1974 was the outcome.
- See more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/03/01/we-cannot-go-back-says-prince/#sthash.j5QGCvZz.dpuf
While the Sulu sultanate crown prince Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, who is holed up in Felda Sahabat here along with his more than 200 men army, says going back will be “embarrassing”, his kin in Manila declared that arrest of their entire family in Philippines was “welcome” in response to Manila’s warning of criminal charges.
As at press time, three of Kiram’s men have been shot dead by the Malaysian security forces and four more were said to be injured. The Malaysian armed forces meanwhile lost two soldiers in the exchange.
Despite the threat of a rising death toll, Kiram said he and his followers will stay in the Tanduao villager here “until death” or until negotiations between the Philippine and Malaysian governments over their claims on Sabah is amicably settled.
“We cannot go back to the Philippines, because that will be a great embarrassment on our part. We have already stated our intention in coming here,” he said.
The Sulu sultanate wants a formal agreement over its Sabah claims with Putrajaya. It wants the Philippine government to set aside politics and look after its interest in the agreement. Thus far, this has not happened.
The sultanate’s grounds for the claim is Sulu’s historical links to Sabah, once known as North Borneo.
Sabah was given to the sultanate of Sulu by the sultanate of Brunei due to the former’s help in quelling a rebellion during the 17th century.
In 1878, the sultanate of Sulu leased Sabah to the British North Borneo Company. Britain eventually annexed Sabah in 1946. The disputed territory was then turned over by Britain to the Federation of Malaysia in 1963.
Manila on its part reportedly said the sultanate’s condition is unacceptable.
‘Cover up’
Meanwhile, earlier this morning, Kiram and his men, who have been holed up in Lahad Datu since Feb 9, have been under attack by the Malaysian security forces.
Both governments had initially issued denials over the intensity of the shootouts but ground reports of bodies being carried out of the “warzone” and “instructions” for all shops, banks and schools to shut down have forced responses from the respective authorities and the Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, brother to soldier Kiram.
According to Philippines media reports, Manila had warned the Sulu sultanate that the latter’s army in Sabah faced “possible criminal charges” as a result of its decision to enter a foreign territory while armed.
But the sultanate has vehemently denied entering a “foreign” territory, reiterating that Sabah is its homeland and that if pushed come to shove, its people will come to their rescue.
According to a Malacanang statement, some 800,000 Filipinos are in Sabah.
Meanwhile, Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III’s spokesman Abraham Idjirani said earlier denials by both Malaysian and Philippine officials of death and injuries were just “to cover up the truth”.
He said despite the casualties the sultanate will continue to peacefully pursue its claim over Sabah.
“Bangsa Sulu will not take revenge but would pursue this matter peacefully,” Idjirani said.
He also added that the sultanate is looking at the possibility of taking the matter to the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC). If it does, it wouldn’t be the first time.
When former ousted Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in 1971 and his quarrels with Malaysia over Sabah reached a new pitch, then Malaysian prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman took the opportunity to place the plight of the Moros, represented by the Mindanao National Liberation Front (MNLF), on the agenda of the OIC.
The Tripoli Agreement in Kuala Lumpur in June 1974 was the outcome.
- See more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/03/01/we-cannot-go-back-says-prince/#sthash.j5QGCvZz.dpuf
35 comments:
Why canot go back?
This is nothing but stupid.
Siapa kata tak boleh balik? Kamu tu memang pentingkan duit
Macam2 permintaan dia ni
Kes ini memang serius tahap gaban sudah.
Please surrender yourself.
You can go back so called prince!
Something has to be made known.
Have some respect for Sabahans.
Because this is essential.
It has nothing do with Project IC instead is all about the Sulu Sultanate staking a claim on Sabah.
If they have the audacity to invade our land, a full scale assault on them using real soldiers is justified. Putrajaya shouldn't be soft in regards to this problem, appropriate action should be taken.
Malaysian government must end this intrusion quickly before the Sulus starts whipping up sentiments amongst themselves to apply pressure on Malaysia.
Hopefully the government would do something about this soonest.
Sultan sulu ni kan bukan setakat buat Malaysia panas, Filipina pun panas juga dengan tindakan dorang.
Makin lama makin teruk pula keadaan ni, malah makin banyak kematian dikhabarkan. Entah betul atau tidak.
Yang pasti pihak berkuasa akan berjuang mempertahankan serta menjaga keselamatan negara dan rakyat.
Tidak pendai dengar cakap, macam ni lah yang akan berlaku. Bukan selesai tapi tambah parah.
Terasa macam pelarian di tempat sendiri pula. Sedihnya. Kepada unit beruniform selamat bertugas:)
The remaining members of the Sulu armed group holed up in a smaller area in Kampung Tanduo are running out of time and must be surrender or face drastic action, warned Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar.
He said the intruders were now trapped and totally surrounded by security forces, which left them with no choice but to surrender.
“The group has forced us and we don’t have any other option but to take drastic and necessary action,” Ismail said at a brief press conference at the General Operations Force base here yesterday.
He said everything was under control and the police were able to handle the situation.
He said the people should not be worried as police were in control of the situation, and security was tightened in every way.
He denied Lahad Datu and Tungku were under curfew orders.
Meanwhile, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib, the intruders will face action under Malaysian law even if they surrendered now as they had already violated law.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, who also warned the Sulu intruders of drastic action if they did not surrender immediately, said he would remain here until the stand-off was over.
Also present was Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Seri Bakri Zinin.
On Friday, 12 members of the armed group and two police commandos were killed in a shootout with Police General Operations Force (GOF) commandos that were maintaining a tight cordon around the village. Three other police personnel were injured in the skirmish.
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak meminta rakyat negara ini terutama di Sabah supaya tidak mempercayai khabar angin bahawa keadaan keselamatan di negeri itu kini dalam keadaan tidak terkawal berikutan pencerobohan bersenjata di Lahad Datu dan kawasan berhampiran.
Perdana Menteri berkata, kejadian tembakan susulan pencerobohan itu hanya berlaku di tiga tempat iaitu Lahad Datu, Semporna dan Kunak dan tidak berlaku di tempat lain.
"Kalau ada khabar angin ia adalah tidak berasas dan tidak berpandukan hakikat sebenar. Rakyat Sabah terutamanya jangan rasa gementar atau takut akan keselamatan mereka,.
Beliau berkata pihak keselamatan sedang menjalankan operasi mengikut keadaan dan situasi semasa di ketiga-tiga kawasan itu.
"Berilah peluang dan masa untuk mereka lakukan tindakan dan operasi untuk tumpaskan kumpulan itu dan selamatkan pihak-pihak di sana," katanya.
orang Sulu ni mmg keras kepala, Sultan kamu tu hanya gila kuasa.
The murder of eight police personnel is among charges which the armed foreign intruders in Sabah would face, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.
“If they have broken the laws of Malaysia, they should be charged in the court of Malaysia for whatever crime they have committed, certainly murder,” he told reporters.
“It is not a war (in Sabah), it is an intrusion into our country by foreigners, on our sovereignty,” he said, adding that Malaysia acted accordingly, in dealing with the situation.
“If there is a war, then the Geneva Convention will come into play. But it is not. It is still at a stage of intrusion.
“So, it is best left to the police because when it comes to national security, it is the responsibility of the police,” added Mohamed Nazri.
On the sentencing council, he noted, the time was now right for Malaysia to seriously consider the setting up of such council to enhance the administration of justice.
“A sentencing council, thus, can play a role in forging a link between the views of the general public and the decisions on sentences made by the courts,” he said.
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