Despite a stern warning from Philippine President Benigno Aquino, the followers of Sulu sultan Jamalul Kiram, who have holed up in a village in Lahad Datu, will not leave Sabah.
Abraham Idjirani, secretary-general and spokesperson of the heirs to the defunct sultanate, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer today that the self-styled sultan is willing to be arrested if the Aquino administration decides to file a case against the chieftain.
However he stressed that the "royal forces" of the Jamalul (left) did not intend to trigger a war when they started occupying the village of Tanduao in Lahad Datu on Feb 9.
"What we need now is a mutual understanding," Idjirani said in a press briefing held today at Kiram’s house in Taguig City.
"We welcome the statement of the president. It’s a development on the right track," he added.
He said the decision of Jamalul’s followers to stay in Sabah "is not a hardline stance."
The Filipino daily also reported that the standoff between Malaysian security forces and Jamalul’s armed intruders, which entered into a third week on Monday, could be ended within the next 48 hours.
It reported that simmering discontent is believed to be building up within the ranks of the group led by Jamalul’s brother Agbimuddin Kiram, with gunshots heard from Tanduao on Sunday.
Although Sabah police chief Hamza Taib (right) has denied reports of gunfire or some of Agbimuddin’s men being shot, a source told the daily said the gunshots were a warning to stop followers of the sultan who wanted to leave.
“The shots were probably meant for those who went with (Agbimuddin) but now want to go home,” said the source, a Philippine diplomat.
No one was hurt, the source said, but the gunshots “startled the already edgy security forces.”
Philippine veep Binay meets Jamalul
Philippine Vice-President Jejomar Binay had also met Jamalul on Sunday night to convince him to end the crisis peacefully by allegedly promising to bring the Sulu sultanate’s Sabah claim to the United Nations.
“He explained to me their position and I listened to him... I then reiterated the position of the Philippine government and renewed my appeal for sobriety,” Binay said in a press statement released yesterday.
Jamalul told reporters yesterday that Binay supported his action and promised to help the sultanate find a peaceful solution to the standoff.
“He asked if it was true that Malaysia was paying us (for Sabah). When I (explained to him the situation), he said, ‘In that case, that’s ours.’ It’s the vice-president saying that that’s ours. That includes him,” Jamalul said.
“When I told him about the sultanate of Sulu, I thought tears flowed from the eyes of the vice-president. He said, ‘Don’t worry. If in case the president did not want to help you, I will (still help you).’ That’s what he said.”
The daily also reported that a statement from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the ship leaving for Lahad Datu to bring back the armed group was still in Tawi-Tawi, awaiting diplomatic clearance to enter Malaysian waters and be on standby off Lahad Datu to receive the group.
“We have learned that (Malaysian forces) have surrounded the area. So what we want to happen is (for) this group to now decide to leave the area for safety and get on board our humanitarian ship,” said DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez.
“We don’t want them to get hurt, to think of resorting to violence or whatever. That’s why we sent a ship there. It’s ready to go to the border when we have people who are ready to be moved and fetched,” he said.
“Hopefully, before Tuesday, they will already be on board our ship,” he added.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told reporters that the ship will stay there as long as it is needed.
Another vessel that carried a family member of Jamalul accompanied by certain government officials had also reportedly left Sulu early yesterday for Sabah.
Talks were going on yesterday between government emissaries and the sultan’s family, despite the reported hardline stand of Jamalul.
“We have some people whom we have sent to talk to the family and the group in that area and we are hoping they will be convinced to leave the area for their safety,” Hernandez said.
Msiakini News
Polis memutuskan untuk bertindak berlandaskan undang-undang negara selepas mengambil kira pelbagai faktor bagi merungkai isu pencerobohan warga Filipina yang mendarat di Kampung Tanduo, kira-kira 130 kilometer dari pekan Lahad Datu.
ReplyDeletePesuruhjaya Polis Sabah Datuk Hamza Taib berkata polis akan menggunakan undang-undang berkaitan untuk mendakwa mereka yang kini dalam kepungan pihak keselamatan bagi memastikan tiada yang terlepas keluar dan tiada kemasukan orang yang tidak berkenaan ke kawasan itu.
Delete“Kita akan membuat keputusan selepas melihat pelbagai faktor termasuk mengkaji kawasan persekitaran dan dalaman sebelum bertindak. Kita menunggu masa yang sesuai dan ini bermakna tiada lagi rundingan. Kita akan berlandaskan undang-undang…kalau ingin dakwa di mahkamah kita akan gunakan…ini terpulang kepada kita.
Delete“Kami tidak kira mereka datang dari mana sama ada dari Kesultanan Sulu… tapi kita tahu mereka adalah orang luar yang datang ke negara kita dan mencabuli undang-undang dan kedaulatan negara.
Delete“Kita boleh lihat kesalahan itu banyak. Mungkin kita boleh mengambil tindakan di bawah kesalahan Kanun Keseksaan atau bersama undang-undang yang berkaitan,” katanya kepada pemberita di Kompleks Pasukan Polis Marin Lahad Datu di sini, Isnin.
DeleteHamza berkata polis akan menggunakan pendekatan yang bersesuaian dan tidak akan berkrompomi terhadap isu pencerobohan ke atas negara ini bagi menjamin dan mempertahankan kedaulatan tanah air.
DeleteBeliau turut menafikan berlaku perbalahan sehingga mengakibatkan dua kematian di kawasan itu dan menambah pihaknya akan menyiasat perkara itu.
Delete“Setakat tembakan kita ada dengar tapi saya berani mengatakan tembakan bukan dari pasukan keselamatan. Tembakan dari dalam pun kita tidak berani hendak mengesahkan…mungkin tembakan ke atas binatang atau amaran (kumpulan penceroboh),” katanya mengulas laporan yang disiarkan media altenatif.
DeleteBeliau meminta masyarakat tidak gusar kerana keselamatan masih terkawal, meskipun pada masa kini, kumpulan itu kemungkinan berdepan masalah kekurangan bekalan air, makanan dan minyak.
DeleteSementara itu, beliau mengesahkan polis menahan empat individu atas kesalahan tidak mempunyai dokumen yang sah pada awal pagi semalam di satu kawasan di Lahad Datu, namun kesemua mereka bukan anggota kumpulan terbabit.
DeleteKetika ditanya mengenai kapal Filipina yang didakwa akan digunakan untuk membawa kumpulan itu pulang ke negara asal, Hamza berkata kapal itu tidak berada di perairan negara ini.
DeletePolis mengenal pasti kumpulan warga Filipina yang mendarat di Kampung Tanduo sejak 12 Februari lepas sebagai waris berketurunan ‘Raja Sulu’ dari Selatan Filipina.
DeletePenceroboh ini harus dikenakan tindakan undang-undang.
DeleteState police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said the security forces are doing their best to ensure the standoff with the Sulu gunmen in Lahad Datu is resolved as soon as possible.
ReplyDelete“If it is necessary for us to act more aggressively, we will,” he said.
ReplyDeleteHamza made the remarks while the armed foreign intruders holed up in Kampung Tanduo, Felda Sahabat 17 defied the extended deadline for them to give up and leave Sabah yesterday.
ReplyDeleteHe said it was not a matter whether the deadline would be extended or not anymore.The deadline was set because the Sulu armed group had requested to meet with a specific individual from the Philippines.
ReplyDeleteThe police has identified the individual, but that individual could not be present here, he added.
ReplyDeleteHamza said the security forces would continue to surround not only Tanduo village, but also Sabah waters to ensure no one can enter or leave illegally.
ReplyDeleteMereka harus dihantar balik ke negara asal.
DeleteAsked whether the armed group had agreed to be deported, Hamza said the security forces would take action based on the law.
ReplyDelete“We will resolve (this issue) as soon as possible without bloodshed. Even if there is, with minimum casualties,” he said.
ReplyDeleteHamza said there were not more than five locals in the village, who were either supporters or sympathizers of the Sulu armed group.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of the locals had either moved out or come out of the village on their own, he added.
Security forces have been laying siege to the Kampung Tanduo round the clock since the standoff began about two weeks ago, cutting off food and water supplies.Gunshots were said to have heard in the area, but Hamza said they had not been verified and were not fired by the security forces.
ReplyDeleteNone of the estimated more than 100 members of the armed group have been arrested or have left Kampung Tanduo thus far, but several people have been detained for attempting to cross the security line.
ReplyDeletePihak berkuasa akan bertindak untuk menjamin keselamatan rakyat.
DeleteALL WE HAVE ARE AMBUYATS AND BLACKFOREST ( hutan sudah habis di gundul oleh BNAMINO) LEFT IN SABAH..........sigh...................what a pity maybe just maybe we would be much better with Philippine then Malaisial
ReplyDeleteMereka yang tiada dokumen sah harus ditahan dan diambil langkah yang sewajarnya.
ReplyDeleteBertindak keras sekiranya penceroboh bertindak mengancam keselamatan.
ReplyDeleteAngkatan Laut Filipina mengirim kapalnya ke perairan Malaysia untuk memujuk para pengikut Sultan Sulu agar mau menghentikan aksi pendudukan mereka di wilayah Sabah.
ReplyDeleteMalaysia sendiri memutuskan untuk memperpanjang tempoh waktu yang diberikan kepada pengikut Sultan Sulu sehingga Selasa (26 Februari 2013).
ReplyDelete100 warga Filipina yang dilengkapi senjata menduduki wilayah Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia sejak dua minggu lalu. Mereka menuntut Malaysia mengembalikan Sabah kepada Sultan Sulu yang mengaku sebagai pemilik sah Sabah.
ReplyDeleteMalaysia sebenarnya memberikan tempoh waktu hingga ahad lalu, 24 Februari 2013 kepada para pengikut Sultan Sulu untuk pergi dari wilayah yang diduduki mereka. Namun atas permintaan Filipina tempoh waktu itu diperpanjang hingga Selasa.
ReplyDeleteKami meminta mereka untuk pulang dengan kapal yang kami kirimkan ke sana, ini semua demi keamanan mereka sendiri,” ujar Menteri Luar Negeri Filipina, Albert del Rosario,
ReplyDelete