US not inclined to be involved in Sabah row

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 21): US not inclined to be involved in Sabah row

With followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III still battling it out with Malaysian security forces in Sabah, the US Embassy in Manila said that they are not inclined in anyway to get involved in the controversy.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas, during Thursday's Security and Defense Kapihan sa Embahada, also said he believes that the issue will be resolved peacefully.

"This is a matter between the government of the Philippines and the government of Malaysia, we pray for peace and we hope that anyone who has been displaced can be taken cared," he added.

Thomas also clarified that the Sabah row is not a matter for the United States.

He made this announcement after the Kirams made it known to the news media that they will seek US help in resolving the matter under the Kiram-Carpenter Agreement which was signed in March 22, 1922.

Under that agreement, signed by US-appointed Governor of Mindanao and Sulu Frank W. Carpenter and the then Sultan of Sulu, the latter relinquished the sultan’s and his heirs’ right to temporal sovereignty, tax collection and arbitration laws.

In exchange, the Sultan got an allowance, a piece of land and recognition as religious leader.

According to the Kirams' the US also agreed to give “full protection to the sultan of Sulu should the question of Sabah arise in the future between the sultanate and any foreign authority.”

"They can invoke this and seek assistance from the US, I can't stop them but again as I said, this is not something we (should be) involved and we do not seek to be involved in anyway, we would never interfere in the sovereign rights of the Philippine government or try to tell President Aquino or (Malaysian) Prime Minister Najib how to resolve this challenge," Thomas stressed.

"And we are very pleased however that that Framework Agreement (with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front) has not been affected and that's why the talks will go on as scheduled and that shows that there is confidence between Manila and Kuala Lumpur," the US official stated.

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