BETWEEN THE LINES | Sulu Sultanate reads PNoy June 12 speech as signal of modus vivendi on Sabah

From InterAksyon (Jun 16): BETWEEN THE LINES | Sulu Sultanate reads PNoy June 12 speech as signal of modus vivendi on Sabah



While President Benigno Aquino III had fighting words directed at China on the raging dispute in the West Philippine Sea, his June 12 speech apparently hinted at a compromise with Malaysia over Sabah, where hundreds of Sulunaons are being hunted for the February 12 standoff that killed over 60 people, mostly Filipinos.

In short, according to the spokesman of the Sulu Sultanate, Abraham Idjirani, Mr. Aquino has effectively abandoned the national obligation over Sabah in, of all things, his speech marking the 115th Independence Day.

In his speech at Liwasang Bonifacio, the President said the country “will not back down from any challenge to its sovereignty amid territorial dispute with China.”

But it was clear also, said Idjirani, that Mr. Aquino glossed over the country’s long-standing historical and legal rights over Sabah, the resource-rich territory that the Sultan of Brunei gave the Sulu sultan in the 17th century to thank him for helping quell a revolt. Despite that, Britain gave the territory to Malaysia when the latter’s federation was born.

The Sulu sultanate ceded to the Philippine government in the sixties its right to reclaim Sabah, but lamented that administration after administration had failed to assert the rights to Sabah.

Things came to a head last February 12, when over 200 Suluanons landed at Lahad Datu in Sabah to “reclaim our homeland,” sparking weeks of skirmishes with Malaysian security forces. Over 60 people were killed and dozens of Filipinos arrested and facing charges.

Reacting to the June 12 speech of the President, Idjirani said Sunday in an interview with DZBB: “With the action manifested by the (Aquino) government, it seems there was no action from our government. Based on his speech (saying) that we will defend our territorial rights, and we will not allow na buwagin ang ating teritoryo, saka kukunin natin ang atin, the statement na ‘yon is implying indirectly na wala nang pakialam ang ating gobyerno sa Sabah, ang pinakikialaman nila ang contemporary reality, wala na ang historical and legal basis.”

Aquino had also said in his speech the country had never claimed territory that clearly belonged to another nation, but only asked that “our territory, rights and dignity be respected”.

The President had added: “Aggression does not run in our veins, but neither will we back down from any challenge.” With this statement, Idjiirani said the Sultanate is looking at the possibility that the Aquino government has entered into an agreement with the Malaysian government not to touch Sabah. “With due apology, nagkaroon ng suspicions ang Sultanate of Sulu against our government na talagang nagkaroon ng compromise agreement between the present administration (of President Aquino) and the administration of Prime Minister Najib Razak, like the other legacy of Aquino na hindi gagalawin ang Sabah hangga’t sila ang mga Aquino ang namumuno sa Pilipinas.”

1963 Manila Accord neglected

Idjirani also reminded the Aquino administration that the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia had signed the 1963 Manila Accord, including the United Nations, to peacefully resolve the Sabah claim, and questioned the failure of the Philippine government to seek its enforcement.

“The government has failed to conduct dialogue in order to reach out and attain the mechanism for peaceful resolution, that’s not being done by our government,” he said.
Idjiirani also lambasted Mr. Aquino for saying, “we have no other desire than to take care of what is rightfully ours. We have never trampled upon the rights of others. We have not claimed or demanded territory that clearly belongs to another. We have neither condescended upon nor oppressed others. Harming others or sowing discord with other countries is not in our history.”

Speaking mostly in Filipino, Idjirani lamented that, “Instead of reaching out to attain a peaceful resolution of the Sabah claim, it [administration] is still sending a statement to the Malaysian government that ‘we will not touch what is not ours’—this is giving strength to the Malaysia position over Sabah.”

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/64178/between-the-lines--sulu-sultanate-reads-pnoy-june-12-speech-as-signal-of-modus-vivendi-on-sabah