(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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