Sulu Sultanate to continue peaceful effort to regain Sabah ownership

From the Manila Bulletin (Jan 1): Sulu Sultanate to continue peaceful effort to regain Sabah ownership

The Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo (SSNB) will continue its efforts this year to regain ownership of resources-rich Sabah through peaceful means.

Sultan Esmail Kiram II relayed this to the Manila Bulletin on Wednesday on New Year’s Eve.

“We will continue our effort to regain the ownership of Sabah from Malaysia through peaceful means in the coming year,” he said from Jolo, Sulu.

He reiterated that he has no plans to repeat what happened in February 2013 that resulted in a bloody confrontation between the Royal Security Force (RSF) and Malaysian military and police in Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu, Sabah.

“Why are you going to resort to violence or fighting when the place is yours? he asked.
Kiram II also recalled that in his meeting in Malaysia before the Sabah standoff occurred, he was assured by a Malaysian general that he is recognized as a sultan by the Malaysian government.

In 2014, the sultan’s Ruma Bichara (Council of Advisers) revealed plans to file a case with the Court of London over Sabah as well as to renew the case filed with the United Nations’ International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Kiram II, younger brother of the late Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, who brought domestic and international attention to the then dormant Sabah claim in 2013, said that as the sultan, he will not abandon the claim but will pursue it without resorting to violence.

It could be recalled that around 235 RSF men led by Rajah Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, the current sultan’s younger brother, sailed from Tawi-Tawi in Mindanao to Sabah to stake their ancient claim on the island.

When the rajah muda and his men were discovered encamped in Kampung Tanduo, a coastal village, Malaysian authorities asked them to leave and go back to the Philippines.

After three weeks of standoff, fighting broke out on March 1, 2013 followed by an all-out offensive on March 5 by the Malaysian forces, backed by jet fighters, helicopter gunships, and artillery barrage against the poorly-armed Moro warriors from Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan.

Many died from both sides. Most of the rajah muda’s men either gave up or were captured while others decided to sail back to Tawi-Tawi, but were discovered at sea by Philippine Navy men and were apprehended.

http://www.mb.com.ph/sulu-sultanate-to-continue-peaceful-effort-to-regain-sabah-ownership/