Friday, April 5, 2013

MNLF: Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo Press Statement

Posted to the MNLF Website (Apr 3): Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo Press Statement

(Upon request from SSNB, www.mnlfnet.com hereby publishes this PRESS STATEMENT)




SULTANATE OF SULU AND NORTH BORNEO (SSNB)
April 03, 2013

PRESS STATEMENT

“O Believers! Fear Allah as He should be feared and die not but as true Muslims. All together hold fast to the rope of Allah (faith in Islam) and be not divided among yourselves.” (Surah Al-Imran : 3:102-103)

1 The events that transpired from February 9, 2013 and onwards to this date cannot just be mere coincidence... or a conspiracy as others like to speculate. To the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo (SSNB) and its Raayat (constituency), they can morally consider it providential.

2 The Sabah claim and other related issues may appear dormant for many years. However, in 1962, the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo took the initiative and agreed to issue a Special Power of Authority known as the Transfer of Sovereignty to the Republic of the Philippines in 1962 during the incumbency of (the late) President Diosdado Macapagal. A provision contained in page 5 of the 1962 document said that “should the Republic (of the Philippines) fail to recover North Borneo after exhausting all peaceful means, this transfer Document shall IPSO FACTO become NULL and VOID and the Sultan of Sulu shall be FREE and ASSERT his Sovereignty over North Borneo by other means available to all SOVEREIGN CLAIMANT...” Related to this pertinent issue, the three (3) consecutive official communications (letters) of HRH Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Kiram III addressed to H.E. President Benigno S. Aquino III since his assumption to office “got lost in the bureaucratic maze.”

3 Rajah Mudah (Crown Prince) Agbimuddin Kiram, who is also officially designated as Administrator of North Borneo (Sabah) upon the decision of the Kiram Ruling Family Council and approved by HRH Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, decided to proceed with the journey back to the Homeland of Sabah on February 9, 2013. The group of 235 lead by Rajah Mudah Agbimuddin landed in Kampung Tandou, Lahad Datu. Among them are their children, women, farmers and fishermen, who have decided to live peacefully in Sabah and to earn their livelihood which is not easily available in Sulu Archipelago.

4 Stand-off of 20 days since Feb. 9/13 happened between the powerful and dominant Malaysian Police and Armed Forces and the group of Rajah Mudah composed of a few members of the Royal Security Forces to protect them from lawless elements during their sea-journey and home coming to Lahad Datu.

5 On March 1st, 2013, Friday, a Malaysian high Ranking General and several escorts was able to talk with Rajah Mudah personally in Kampung Tandou, Lahad Datu. They embraced each other (as Muslims) and as the General turned his back barely two-meters away, he faced again the Rajah Mudah with a gun on his hand and shot Agbimuddin at point blank. Thereafter a close-encounter commotion and fighting started that led to the death of several Muslims on both sides including the Commanding Police General. By Allah’s mercy, the Rajah Mudah survived the onslaught. May Allah punish the aggressors!

6 On March 5, 2013, the National Leadership of the Federation of Malaysia declared an ALL-OUT WAR with 10-battalion strong reinforcements conducting air, land and sea bombardments against a small group of Rajah Mudah’s Royal Security Forces, who dispersed into smaller groups resulting to defensive guerrilla warfare.

7 Several casualties including Dead-in-Action (DIA) were reported on both sides which is fast becoming a psy-war among Muslim brethren. We don’t have such machinery, I should admit, to counter such psy-war propaganda because we don’t control the media and the press. For us, the only way to counter such machinery is to tell the TRUTH to our constituents, Filipino people and as well to the whole world, including the United Nations Organization (UNO) and other International Institutions and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs). Indeed many responded positively.

8 On March 6, 2013, in New York, the representative of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon issued statements expressing that “Secretary-General is closely following the situation in Sabah, Malaysia. He urges an end to the violence and encourages among all parties for a peaceful resolution of the situation... He urges all parties to facilitate delivery of humanitarian assistance and act in full respect of international human rights norms and standards.”

9 HRH Sultan Jamalul Kiram III with dispatch, on March 7, 2013 declared a “Unilateral ceasefire” and ordered Rajah Mudah Agbimuddin to inform his supporters to disseminate the order and act only on “Self-defence” when attacked. HRH further declared that the Peaceful Negotiation is still open among all parties concerned.The Malaysian government out-right rejected the unilateral ceasefire including the offer of peaceful Negotiations.

10 It is sad to note that “hawkish” aides of His Excellency, Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Abdul Rajak, have prevailed upon him to pursue the policy of “Surrender First and talk later” including Policy of Intimidation and Ethnic Cleansing of non-combatant civilian Tausug (Suluk) Muslims. Most of them are already Malaysian citizens and working peacefully in Sabah. However, they were subjected to inhuman atrocities and violence which is clearly in violations of International Human Right norms and standard including violation of the statute of Rome. There are indeed evidences to be presented in due time.

11 Holy Qur’an, Surah 2:84: Al-Baqara (the Heifer)... “Also remember another covenant which we took from you: That you shall not expel your own people from your homes; you confirmed it and you are witness to it.”

12 The Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo is a Islamic Sultanate and its concept of sovereignty rest on the Almighty Allah and myself as His Vice-Regent. Hence forth, it is incumbent upon me to listen to the advice of the Council of Ulama, Council of royal sharifs and the Gausbaugbug Coalition for Humanitarian and Peaceful Resolution of Sabah Issue to strictly follow the Islamic Guidance;

13 Therefore, as Vice-Regent of Almighty Allah, I call upon the Malaysian Leaders, headed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah and His Excellency Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Abdul Rajak to help end hostilities between the Tausug (Suluk) and Malaysian Muslims in Sabah. Let us talk peace as Muslims to find a common ground to immediately solve the Sabah crises for the sake of the Islamic Ummah in this part of the Globe.


(Sgd) HRH SULTAN MOHAMMAD JAMALUL KIRAM III

 
Hji. Abraham Idjirani

Secretary-General, SSNB
 

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