There is a touch of irony in the fighting in Sabah where Malaysian forces, using eight fighter jets, laser-guided bombs, artillery and hundreds of troops, have failed to subdue a handful of Filipino Muslims from Sulu.
When the Moro National Liberation Front was formed to fight the Philippine government years ago, it was Malaysia who trained, in Sabah, MNLF fighters in guerrilla warfare. Now it is veteran MNLF fighters who are leading the Sulu force in fighting the Malaysians. Obviously, they learned their lessons well. In spite of the overwhelming advantage in men and ordnance, the Malaysians could not find the “cornered” followers of the Sultanate of Sulu in the jungles of Sabah which, as one veteran said, they know “like the back of their hands.”
There is one way the Philippine and Malaysian governments can persuade the Filipino Muslims to “go home.” That is for Malaysia to either agree to take the Sultanate of Sulu’s claim to Sabah to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or to negotiate with the Philippine government and the sultanate, with a definite date for the talks to start.
It is because of decades of being ignored by the Malaysian government and neglected by the Philippine government—including the “loss” of letters from the Sultan of Sulu to President Aquino on the Sabah claim—that the sultan was forced to take the drastic step. He wanted to force the issue. He hoped that when fighting erupts and lives are lost, international agencies like the United Nations may intervene and force Malaysia to negotiate or go to the ICJ. The lives of some of his followers lost in the fighting are a sacrifice to regain their homeland.
Why is Malaysia afraid to do either? Because historical and documentary evidence clearly prove that Sabah belongs to the Sultanate of Sulu. Malaysia is holding on to it by sheer force of arms, just like Hitler did in annexing neighboring European countries and Tojo did in annexing neighboring Southeast Asian countries during World War II.
Sabah is not important to Malaysia. In fact, it is being neglected by Kuala Lumpur because of the distance. But it is very important to the Filipinos of Sulu, to which it is very close. They need it for trade (there is now a shortage of food in Tawi-Tawi because of the fighting in Sabah) and for jobs and living space.
Not only because it is the homeland of Sulu Muslims, Malaysia should return it to its rightful owners for humanitarian reasons. The UN should intervene before more lives are lost.
The Jews waged decades of war, including terrorism, to regain their homeland, Israel, and succeeded. The Filipino Muslims hope they will be able to achieve the same feat. Years from now, the struggle of the Filipino Muslims will make good material for stories and movies, just like the struggle of the American Indians and the blacks exploited by the white immigrants from Europe.
A spokesperson for self-proclaimed Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III on Friday belied reports that the clashes in Sabah had left 52 of the sultan's followers dead. Abraham Idjirani, Kiram III's spokesman, citing information from crown prince Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, said 10 royal army soldiers have so far died since armed clashes began last week.
Idjirani said the 10 soldiers died during a firefight last Friday in Lahad Datu. He said the Friday clash was the only instance where the sultan's followers exchanged fire with Malaysian security forces. "Isang beses lang nagkaroon ng bakbakan ang royal security forces at Malaysian police commando kung saan nangyari ho yun ng March 1st, at tinagurian nating 'March 1 Massacre,'" Idjirani told dzMM. Idjirani said according to Raja Muda Kiram, the 235 royal army soldiers have all been accounted for, with 10 fatalities, 10 arrested and 4 injured.
After the Lahad Datu clash on Friday, Malaysia reported that the violence had spilled the following day to the town of Semporna, where an additional 18 Filipino militants allegedly died. Malaysia then launched a bigger offensive on Tuesday, sending fighter jets and dropping bombs to the intruded areas. Malaysian troops said they shot and killed 32 followers of the sultan during the latest assault. That brought the total dead to 60, including 52 militants. Eight Malaysian policemen were killed in skirmishes last weekend.
Idjirani said the crown prince considers the report on the fatalities as propaganda by the Malaysian forces. He believes that innocent civilians were included in the fatalities. He claimed no more royal army soldiers died in the succeeding attacks as they have become more careful. "Kahit may nagbo-bomba, kami ay nag-iingat at aming tinatantsa kung saan kami pupunta bago magkaroon ng bomba sa area na kinaroroonan namin," said Idjirani, quoting Raja Muda Kiram.
Meanwhile, Princess Jacel Kiram, daughter of the Sultan, challenged the Malaysian government to give foreign media access to the affected areas. "Para malaman natin ang totoo, I am challenging the Malaysian government na i-allow nila ang pagpasok ng foreign media para hindi tayo nagbibigayan ng numero lamang at walang naniniwala sa isa't isa," the princess said in a separate dzMM interview. "Alam natin na lahat ng ipa-publish nila at lahat ng report na ilalabas nila ay may pahintulot ng Malaysian government. Hindi po nila pinapayagan ang mga ibang media na mag-cover, pili lang po."
Idjirani said another reason for their call for an immediate end to the violence in Sabah was the alleged killing of innocent civilians by the Malaysian forces. The sultan's group earlier said its decision to call for a unilateral ceasefire was triggered by an appeal from United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to involved parties to end the violence and hold talks. "Ang Malaysian police and military ay nagkalat na ng violence sapagkat ang kanilang tinutumbok na ngayon ay mga civilian Filipinos na nandoon sa Sabah," Idjirani said. "Kaya iyun ang desisyon at nagkataon din na mayroong panawagan ang United Nations."
The Malaysian government immediately rejected the group's ceasefire request and said it would continue to press the offensive. Nevertheless, Idjirani said they are still hoping that the Malaysian government would change its mind and finally hold talks with them. "Ang mahalaga ay naipakita natin sa buong mundo na ang Sultanate of Sulu ay marunong tumupad sa usapan at panawagan ng United Nations para maresolba ang issue ng payapa," he said. "Kahit ni-reject ng Malaysia, ang fundamental concern natin ay 'yung pag-reciprocate sa panawagan ng UN. Iyun pa ring ang intensyon natin para matigil ang violence at atrocities na ginagawa ng Malaysian authorities sa inosenteng Filipino civilians sa Sabah."
Sources: Philippine Daily Inquirer, UNTV & ABS-CBN News
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