Sultanate of Sulu demand the return of Sabah from Malaysia?

[Zero_wing]

Leave him. He is not important.

.

"To you false flager if you are really a filipino you would know what his name means proving you are a false flager.!"-Zero_wing

False flager, false flager, false flager. Everyday, when you reply to me, there is always that word. That's just weak and immature. Just unoriginal.

really then use other flag then then i will stop

 

[Malaya]

Kirams insist: P70K is rent for Sabah not cession fee
By Mike Frialde (philstar.com) | Updated March 8, 2013

MANILA, Philippines - The Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo on Friday stressed that the 5,300 ringgits (almost P70,000) paid annually by the Malaysian government to the heirs of the sultanate is rent for Sabah and not cession money for its transfer as claimed by Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister Anifah Aman.

“If its is cession money, why are they still paying the heirs up to now? If it were cession money, why is it still being paid up to today? Kung cession, bakit walang tigil?” said Abraham Idjirani, spokesman for the sultanate.

Idjirani said the confusion lies in the translation of the word “padjak” which was used in the 1878 contract between the Sultanate of Sulu, the ruler of Sabah and the British North Borneo Company.

In the contract that supposedly leased Sabah, the word “padjak” appeared which according to him meant merely a lease.

Idjirani said experts in Bahasa Malay also agree that “padjak” which is also used in the Tausug dialect and that was written in Arabic characters in the 1878 contract, is defined as “lease.” Idjirani however said, the term was misinterpreted by the British North Borneo Company as “cession.”

“We have historical records to show that the contract was for lease and not for cession,” Idjirani said.

Aman said the Malaysian government does not recognize any outside claims that Sabah does not belong to Malaysia.

Aman told Malaysia's TV3 that the 1878 agreement between Alfred Dent and Baron von Overbeck of the British North Borneo Company and the sultan of Sulu at that time stated that the sultan of Sulu ceded the region of North Borneo permanently, and the heir is entitled to receive annual payment of 5,300 ringgits.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/03/08/917318/kirams-insist-p70k-rent-sabah-not-cession-fee


Kiram group calls for prisoner swap with Malaysian forces
March 8, 2013

The camp of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III on Friday called for a prisoner swap with Malaysia in light of the bloody clashes between the sultan's followers and Malaysian security forces in Sabah.

A report by Sherrie Ann Torres on “Quick Response Team” quoted Kiram's group as saying that four Malaysian fighters, including a colonel, are currently in their custody as prisoners.

Malaysian authorities, meanwhile, said they have captured 10 of Kiram's fighters in Sabah after the 17-day standoff there that started early February gave way to a series of clashes, the report said.

Kiram, who has declared a unilateral ceasefire with Malaysia, wants an independent group to facilitate the prisoner swap, the report said.

GMA News Online tried calling Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Raul Hernandez for a comment, but he could not be reached as of press time.

According to Abraham Idjirani, spokesman for the Sulu sultanate, the group — led by Kiram's brother Raja Muda Agbimuddin — has not eaten for two days based on information reaching them.

The DFA is negotiating with the Malaysian authorities to have access to the captured followers of Kiram as the Philippine government maintains its call for Kiram's followers in Sabah to surrender.

Last February, Kiram sent around 300 followers to fight for a territorial stake on Sabah, a resource-rich part of the Borneo island, basing their claim on a historical agreement with the Brunei sultanate during the British colonization in Malaysia. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/KBK, GMA News

Kiram group calls for prisoner swap with Malaysian forces | News | GMA News Online


Sultan wants foreign, local media in Sabah
By Mike Frialde (philstar.com) | Updated March 8, 2013

MANILA, Philippines - The Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo on Friday demanded that Malaysia allow foreign and local journalists to enter the conflict affected areas of Sabah to verify Kuala Lumpur's claim that 32 members of the Royal Sulu Army have been shot dead by Malaysian security forces on Wednesday and Thursday.

“Dapat papasukin na ang foreign and local media sa mga conflict affected areas to verify their claims. Until that is done, everything is subject to debate,” said Abraham Idjirani, spokesman of the sultanate.

Idjirani added that unless verified by local and international media, the number of casualties inflicted by Malaysian security forces on the Sulu Royal Army is just propaganda by the Malaysian government.

Malaysian Federal Police chief Ismil Omar also said at least 52 members of the Sulu Royal Army have so far been killed in engagements with Malaysian security forces. Omar added that one of those killed in the recent encounters was a man believed to be holding the rank of a general in the Royal Sulu Army.

The Sultanate of Sulu maintains that so far, only 10 of its forces in Sabah have been killed. The Sultanate’s army in Sabah is under the command of Raja Muda (Crown Prince) Agbimuddin Kiram, brother of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III.

On Thursday, Jamalul declared a “cessation of hostilities” hours after the Malaysian government rejected the unilateral ceasefire the former had earlier declared.

Idjirani said that with the declaration of a cessation of hostilities, the Sultanate is now appealing to Malaysia to stop the bombardment of the Royal Sulu Forces so that the two parties could sit down and dialog as encouraged by the United Nations.

Meanwhile, Idjirani is also calling on the United Nations to send in peacekeepers in Sabah following the Sultanate’s unilateral declaration of cessation of hostilities.

Should Malaysian security forces continue with its attacks on the positions of the Royal Sulu Army and should there be resulting casualties, Idjirani said the Sultanate is leaving it to the United Nations to judge.

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/03/08/917305/sultan-wants-foreign-local-media-sabah

 

[Malaya]

Then can you explain this?

And this?

Both Sulus and MNLF wear camouflaged uniforms, those dead bodies were in blacks, the similar blacks Malaysian Royal Police Force wore during that operation. Could that really be Sulu fighters dead bodies instead of dead Malaysian Police bodies when those dead bodies themselves represent the opposite?

Exactly. Those slain bodies looks more of their own (police officers)

 

[scobydoo]

It's written in Malay language, but i will try to translate it.

First pic shows parts of the lungs and liver from Polis Diraja Malaysia that were killed by Sulu rebel in the village of Sri jaya, Srimunul, Semporna, Sabah

Second pic shows beheaded bodies of Polis Diraja Malaysia when attacked by an Sulu rebel ambush in the village of Sri jaya, Srimunul, Semporna, Sabah. Circled above is the body, while the circle under is the head.

 

[Zero_wing]

It's written in Malay language, but i will try to translate it.

First pic shows parts of the lungs and liver from Polis Diraja Malaysia that were killed by Sulu rebel in the village of Sri jaya, Srimunul, Semporna, Sabah

Second pic shows beheaded bodies of Polis Diraja Malaysia when attacked by an Sulu rebel ambush in the village of Sri jaya, Srimunul, Semporna, Sabah. Circled above is the body, while the circle under is the head.

wow nice detective work i guess the Malaysian did not have real bodies to show so they use their own dead for it? if you bring both evidence together like this

 

[Malaya]

UN calls for end to violence to avoid further bloodshed. Malaysia rejecting a ceasefire will only inflame the situation. Sad this is happening. Those fighters are now biting the hands that feeds them. Anyway it is now Malaysia's turn to spend its resources fighting a guerilla war. For sure this will be a long painful and excruciating war. Good luck to them.

 

[nufix]

UN calls for end to violence to avoid further bloodshed. Malaysia rejecting a ceasefire will only inflame the situation. Sad this is happening. Those fighters are now biting the hands of that feeds them. Anyway it is now Malaysia's turn to spend its resources fighting a guerilla war. For sure this will be a long painful and excruciating war. Good luck to them.

Exactly, Malaysia was supporting rebellion in Aceh until it was ended in 2004 by giving asylum to its leader, has been supporting southern Thailand rebellion, giving assistance to southern Mindanao rebellion, also has been giving protection to terrorist leaders that terrorized Indonesia in Bali and Jakarta bombing.

Jetzt soll Malaysia einen Aufstand schemecken ! it will be a real ******** to have a rebellion and bloodshed right on its own backyard.

 

[Zero_wing]

Exactly, Malaysia was supporting rebellion in Aceh until it was ended in 2004 by giving asylum to its leader, has been supporting southern Thailand rebellion, giving assistance to southern Mindanao rebellion, also has been giving protection to terrorist leaders that terrorized Indonesia in Bali and Jakarta bombing.

Jetzt soll Malaysia einen Aufstand schemecken ! it will be a real ******** to have a rebellion and bloodshed right on its own backyard.

Poetic Justice is the term and Sclerotic Irony but please am saying Malaysia is evil though its still wrong for Royal Army to carry guns in very sensitive situation and the Filipinos in sabah are not paying for that mistake

 

[nufix]

Poetic Justice is the term and Sclerotic Irony but please am saying Malaysia is evil though its still wrong for Royal Army to carry guns in very sensitive situation and the Filipinos in sabah are not paying for that mistake

All I am saying is, they get what they make. Simple justice ain't it?

 

[Zero_wing]

Sure its true but still i have to admit my countrymen put my country name in the mud by going this they should have come to sabah unarmed using their heads. Tired their themselves to a tree or something a non violent resistance if you will am on their side on the Sabah claim but they should have been more peaceful and stop blaming President Aquino for their fail attack.

 

[Fsjal]

Sure its true but still i have to admit my countrymen put my country name in the mud by going this they should have come to sabah unarmed using their heads. Tired their themselves to a tree or something a non violent resistance if you will am on their side on the Sabah claim but they should have been more peaceful and stop blaming President Aquino for their fail attack.

Looks like we have in common.

 

[WuMaoCleverbot]

‘There was no Sabah referendum’
Luke Rintod | March 8, 2013

KOTA KINABALU: United Borneo Front (UBF) chairman Jeffrey Kitingan has disputed the context of the 1962 referendum which academics and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak claim confirmed Sabahans’ desire to be part of Malaysia.

“There has never been a referendum on Sabah as stated by some academics.

“In fact, the so-called referendum in 1962-63 was actually only a sampling survey of less than four percent of the Sabah population,” he said in response to Najib’s comments on Sabah yesterday.

Najib said there was no question of Sabah not being within Malaysia.
Said Najib: “On the question of polemics of whether Sabah is a part of Malaysia, I want to stress that the issue had been finalised in 1978 and Sabah is a valid region in Malaysia,” he said.

He said the Cobbold Commission had held a referendum and two-thirds of the people in Sabah agreed to the state being a part of Malaysia. The commission also obtained the recognition of the United Nations.

(The Cobbold Commission was set up to find out whether the people of Sabah and Sarawak were agreeable to the proposal to create Malaysia, made up of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak.)

But Jeffrey, who also heads the Sabah chapter of the State Reform Party (STAR), said the Malaysia Agreement which incorporated terms of the Cobbold Commission “is yet to be implemented”.

“Najib must realise that Sabah belongs to the people of Sabah.
“Malaysia does not own Sabah as the Malaysia Agreement is yet to be implemented. Sabah is not a piece of lifeless property to be fought over between the Philippines [Sulu claim] and Malaya.

“Therefore, any talks between Malaysia/Malaya and the Philippines must include Sabah because only the people of Sabah can decide what they want.

“The [Sulu's] Sabah claim, whether valid or not, must be resolved once and fo all by bringing all the relevant parties to the table within the ambitof Britain and the United Nations and find a peaceful solution,” he said.

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/03/08/there-was-no-sabah-referendum/

 

[Malaya]

Exactly, Malaysia was supporting rebellion in Aceh until it was ended in 2004 by giving asylum to its leader, has been supporting southern Thailand rebellion, giving assistance to southern Mindanao rebellion, also has been giving protection to terrorist leaders that terrorized Indonesia in Bali and Jakarta bombing.

Jetzt soll Malaysia einen Aufstand schemecken ! it will be a real ******** to have a rebellion and bloodshed right on its own backyard.

That is just so sad but that’s a fact. They prospered at the expense of their neighbors to protect their interest. Now they will also suffer and bleed slowly. They trained those fighters to fight our Government and now they are calling them terrorist. Karma really goes by.

Sure its true but still i have to admit my countrymen put my country name in the mud by going this they should have come to sabah unarmed using their heads. Tired their themselves to a tree or something a non violent resistance if you will am on their side on the Sabah claim but they should have been more peaceful and stop blaming President Aquino for their fail attack.

I agree that they should let diplomacy take over and settle the matter with a peace pipe, not the barrel of a gun. It's just a shame that such treachery by the Brits and Malaysia has lasted for decades. We were so keen on fighting our territorial rights in the West Phil. Sea, yet we can't even make a stand on our sovereign rights in Sabah. That’s why I can't also blame them if they made their own move to re-establish our country's claim over Sabah. Well I just hope they’ll find a way to end this soon.

 

[Malaya]

Kuala Lumpur launches media drive to discredit Kirams
By Allan Nawal
Inquirer Mindanao
Saturday, March 9th, 2013

DIGOS CITY—After labeling Agbimuddin Kiram’s forces in Sabah terrorists, the Malaysian government has launched a campaign to discredit the brother of the Sulu group’s leader, Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, along with an effort to link them with the Malaysian opposition.

In a report published this week, the state-owned news agency Berita National Malaysia (Bernama) accused Jamalul of “masquerading as the sultan of Sulu” and saying he “cannot lay claim to the defunct title.”

Bernama has always acted at the behest of the government, and is seen in Malaysia as the window to what the Barisan Nasional (ruling national coalition) thinks.
Ariff Sabri, a former leader of the United Malays National Organization (Umno)—the leading party under the BN, once described Bernama as a “psywar” machine for Umno and its allies and accused it of issuing “half-baked” reports to discredit opposition figures.
“So don’t try to pull the wool over our eyes,” Ariff, who has since joined the opposition, said when Bernama tried to play down the opposition’s victory in at least five states in the 2008 elections.

Family insider

In trying to discredit Jamalul, the Bernama report posted on Thursday quoted an alleged Kiram family insider—whom it described as having deep knowledge of the sultanate—as saying it was “wrong for him to [claim that he is] the heir [of] the last sultan of Sulu, Jamalul Kiram II, who died in 1936.”

“Jamalul Kiram III was never a legitimate descendant of the nine rightful heirs of Jamalul Kiram II [who were named] in the 1939 ‘Macaskie Judgment’ [as] eligible to receive cession payments, following the ceding of Sabah, then known as North Borneo, to the British North Borneo Co. (BNBC),” Bernama quoted the unnamed source as saying.

Bernama, however, also quoted the source as saying that Jamalul is a member of the Sulu royalty.

Sulu heirs

But a copy of the official court document the Inquirer has obtained shows that Jamalul’s father, Datu Punjungan Kiram, is one of the nine heirs to the sultanate.

The others are Datu Esmail Kiram, Dayang Dayang Piandao Kiram, Dayang Dayang Sitti Rada Kiram, Princess Tarhata Kiram, Princess Sakinur-In Kiram, Dayang Dayang Putli Jahara Kiram, Dayang Dayang Sitti Mariam Kiram and Mora Napsa.

The leading political coalition in Malaysia also appears to have started a crackdown on the opposition.

Utusan Malaysia, a progovernment newspaper, published a report on Wednesday that tried to justify the claims of politicians identified with the Umno that Agbimuddin’s intrusion into Sabah was the handiwork of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Prime Minister Najib Razak said Anwar and opposition leaders were being investigated in connection with reports that they had met with members of the Sulu royalty prior to the Feb. 9 “homecoming” of Agbimuddin and a group of armed followers of the Sulu sultanate.

In a story posted on its online edition, Utusan tried to establish Anwar’s strong links with Filipinos by quoting his former secretary, Mohammad Rahimi Osman, as saying his former boss had Filipino security.

Utusan said Rahimi identified the four Filipino aides of Anwar as Daniel Cruz, Noel del Rosario, Alfred Sese and Bong Oteyza. The four, according to Rahimi, have been working for Anwar since 2008.

“They are members of a specially trained commando team and possess a wealth of expertise,” Rahimi was quoted as saying.
Utusan also published an article that criticized Anwar for threatening to sue the newspaper for earlier reports about his supposed links to Agbimuddin’s group and the Sabah intrusion.

It quoted former People’s Justice Party chief Mahful Wahid Anwar as saying Anwar should not single out Utusan because even the foreign media—referring to the Philippine Daily Inquirer—also carried a similar story.

Utusan also published a story on the challenge posted by Perkasa Indigenous Organization Malaysia (Perkasa) information chief Ruslan Kassim to Anwar “to sue Philippine President Benigno Aquino” for linking the opposition to the Sabah claim of the Kiram family.

Umno leader Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said Anwar’s wife should answer the allegations because her husband did not want to explain his alleged involvement in the Sabah crisis.

“I am not accusing, but I want to ask. Why [is he] silent and [does] not answer the allegations made by the media?” Utusan quoted Shahrizat as saying.

Anwar’s denial

Anwar has denied having a hand in the Sabah intrusion. In a report published by The Star newspaper of Malaysia on Wednesday, he also denied meeting with the sultan of Sulu.

In an interview with Radyo Inquirer 990AM on Thursday, Anwar said he did not know Jamalul but he knew there were many claimants to the Sulu throne.

He said the intrusion into Sabah was “unacceptable.”

“We cannot allow militant activity within our borders,” Anwar said.

And yesterday, Anwar filed a defamation suit against Utusan and TV3 for linking him to the Sabah intrusion.

Protests against Tien

Across Malaysia, pro-Umno groups have staged protests against another opposition leader, Tien Chua, for allegedly linking the ruling coalition to the Sabah crisis.

Bernama said the protesters accused Tien of being unpatriotic.

In George Town, Penang, the Barisan Nasional’s youth group filed a police complaint against Tien.

Tien said on Friday that he was “misquoted by the party paper” in the issue over the Sabah intrusion.

He said the Keadilan Daily took his statements out of context when it reported that he claimed the intrusion was a conspiracy involving Umno.

He said journalists contacted him for comment when news of the Sabah standoff broke out.

“I very clearly stated that the matter, at the time, was not confirmed and there was a media blackout here,” he said.

Denying he insulted the security forces protecting the country’s sovereignty in Lahad Datu, Tien said he would leave it up to the courts to clear his name.

“The accusation that I have insulted the security forces is complete slander and malicious lies,” he said.

Kuala Lumpur launches media drive to discredit Kirams | Inquirer Global Nation



Declare emergency in Sabah
March 8, 2013
Malaysia must also severe all diplomatic ties with the Philippines for the moment and if necessary suspend trade and bilateral activities over Manila's failure to stop the Sulu invasion.

By R Kengadharan

The armed invaders may not corporate and surrender hence the full force of the law and military might must fall on them.

Malaysia cannot allow this situation to persist. There has been serious violation of both domestic and international laws that resulted in indiscriminate loss of life.

The current situation cannot guarantee the safety and well-being of the people of Sabah and any operation to flush out the invaders would require time and considerable effort especially when they have now melted away.

While all effort to identify must continue the government cannot compromise and must immediately establish a temporary safety corridor.

Every humanitarian help and assistance must continue and it is also the duty of the government to ensure that the unfortunate conflict does not arrive in Sarawak and to the Peninsular.

Thus there is an immediate and urgent need to beef up coastal and airport securities and eliminate domestic Suluk uprising.

For the moment the question of resolving and/or negotiating does not arise when the Sultan of Sulu and his gunmen has chosen the path of violence and deliberately and intentionally defied the sovereignty of Malaysia and its authorities.

To a larger extend Manila must be held responsible for the present conflict as they were not able to curb and/or contain the conflict and aggression.

Manila has failed to take immediate steps to halt the steady progression of the aggression against Sabah hence it is only legitimate for Malaysia to severe all diplomatic ties with the Philippines for the moment and if necessary suspend trade and bilateral activities.

We ask the government of Malaysia to call for an urgent siting in the United Nations condemning the Philippines on their failure for not having taken appropriate steps consistent with international laws to stop the invaders from penetrating into our jurisdiction.

The refusal to take measures somewhat appears that the Philippines assisted the provocation and aggression against Sabah.

In this “act of war”, Malaysia is no position to provide a warm, friendly and brotherly treatment to the invaders and all migration and/or relocation effort earlier promised must now permanently seize until our pride and sovereignty is restored.

In an effort to contain fresh violence, Malaysia must adopt a hardline policy to deescalate the tension.

There is no doubt the security, the economic life and public order in Sabah is threatened and to avoid more casualties, damage and disaster the government must now quickly move to declare a state of emergency in Sabah.

Declare emergency in Sabah | Free Malaysia Today


Asean all quiet on the Sabah front
By Kevin H.R. Villanueva
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Amid the spiraling chaos in Lahad Datu, Sabah, a crucial question has been raised which no one has yet explored: What can the Association of Southeast Asian Nations do? The answer is, put plainly and simply, nothing.

Asean is an intergovernmental organization. It emerged in the era of decolonization and postwar politics and was hence a pact among newly minted states who wanted to distance themselves from their colonial masters and build their nations in conditions of peace and stability. They fought hard to negotiate their borders between old imperial demarcations, ancient community kinships, and the strategic interests of emerging national elites.

The conflict before us today is ostensibly between Malaysia (a state) and Sultan Jamalul Kiram III of Sulu (a legal person). The former has effective sovereign control over a territory whose ownership is claimed by the latter. The fact that the incredible amount of P77,000 (said to be its annual “rent” money since 1878, or cession price, depending on who interprets the concept of “pajak&#8221 goes to the sultan and his family and not to the Philippine government, methinks, uncovers the parties who are in direct discord.

Asean compelled its member-states to promise to renounce “threat or the use of force” with the adoption and ratification of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation of 1976. This contract was succeeded by the Asean Charter in 2008, which effectively gave the regional bloc legal personality and provided its members with the rules under which they can “resolve peacefully all disputes in a timely manner through dialogue, consultation and negotiation.” It is essential to note, however, that, in the event of a crisis, it is the member-states themselves who must be the parties in dispute (Chapter VII, Article 23). Now the heavy-handed manner with which Malacañang has warned Sultan Kiram and his followers, who are presently held captives in Sabah, seems to suggest that Prime Minister Najib Razak and President Aquino stand their countries on the same side of the thin red line.

Furthermore, in case a scenario of conflict does arise, it is also the member-states who must agree to a resolution. And here we encounter another problem: Any settlement will have to be left to the good intentions of the parties. Asean has no institutional device for enforcing decisions. If the articles on the settlement of disputes between member-states are half-baked, the institutional resolution of clashes between the distinct entities outlined above will still be a long time coming.

Do the present circumstances, however, exonerate Asean from all duty or action on the escalating conflict? No. I believe there is another way to phrase the initial question if we want to be more helpful (and hopeful): What can the member-states do for Asean?

There are three factors for the leaders to ponder.

First, Sultan Kiram has deployed his small but loyal following to reclaim what they hold to be their ancestral homeland. The move is charged with profound symbolism both for them and our Muslim brothers and sisters in the South and will reverberate long into history, especially when lives have been sacrificed. The sultan has himself admitted: “I am the poorest sultan in the world.” This is not just about fair economic compensation; it is also an appeal to clarify what his title means to him and his people in the context of present geopolitical realities.

Second, Sabah is the second largest federal state of Malaysia after Sarawak. It is home to rare fauna and flora, tracts of timberland, and palm oil plantations—a beautiful place, I am told, but it is ironically also one of the poorest regions in Malaysia.

This is why it made sense for President Fidel Ramos to push for the East Asian Growth Area (EAGA) in the 1990s, so that it may spur an “economic corridor” among Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines (BIMP). The sociopolitical and economic costs for Prime Minister Najib are far too high for him to run away from this crisis, tail between his legs, like his detractors might wish.

Third, the Philippine claim to Sabah has not been “dormant”—it has been, in fact, erratic, subject to the vagaries of domestic and international politics, more than what should have been from the start a clear, consistent and firm conviction of Filipino ownership. Presidents Ferdinand Marcos dropped it, Corazon Aquino was somehow indifferent to it, Ramos wisely transformed it, up until the claims were overshadowed by the instability and corruption under the Estrada and Arroyo administrations. What is truly at stake for President Aquino in all this confusion is, I believe, the fate of the 800,000 Filipinos who are in Sabah and their future—whether they will continue to live peacefully or form an exodus to Sulu as economic refugees.

The house of Asean was built by states in order to keep the region stable and secure and inspire political, economic and cultural development. The problem of borders is not new. Indeed, one compelling reason for the birth of Asean was to end the konfrontasi between Indonesia and Malaysia for the control of the island of Borneo, where Sabah incidentally also sits. If the ingredients of peace and stability are threatened, then the heirs of Asean have all the reason to be perturbed: What is there to gain if the organization first falls short of its objectives and consequently delegitimizes its benefactors? A negotiated settlement will have to be more creative, preeminently humane, to unravel the deadly snarl on the region’s footsteps.

Asean member-states must first look to the Philippines, Malaysia and Sultan Kiram because those who are sure to stop further bloodshed are also those who stand to gain the most out of a promising future for Sabah. Creativity also requires calmness, stepping back, and gaining a new vantage point. They will probably be able to do this only if they take in a fresh mediator able and willing to listen, and listen again.

Brunei can be a silent, humble and confident go-between. It shares borders with Sabah (originally her own) and is knowledgeable in the gentle ways of Islam. Pure coincidence, perhaps, but Brunei also happens to be the current chair of Asean. This may be a case of crisis turned into opportunity. Will somebody in the house please—for the peoples’ sake—speak?

Kevin H.R. Villanueva is a university research scholar in East Asian studies and politics and international studies at the University of Leeds (United Kingdom). He was a member of the Philippine delegation under Ambassador Rosario Manalo to the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights for the Asean Human Rights Declaration.

Asean all quiet on the Sabah front | Inquirer Opinion

 

[Zero_wing]

Looks like we have in common.

Oh please false flager take a reality pill

Well tol alam mo na man mga kabayan natin na Moro matapag lang pero hindi marunog sa diplomasiya but that's done already all we can ask for and do is pray for them to just go home.