DISMAYED by the cold treatment it has been getting from the Philippine government, the sultanate of Sulu is now seeking the help of the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) in its quest to regain Sabah.
Sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani said that under the 1915 Kiram-Carpenter agreement, the US is “morally and historically obligated” to help the Sultanate in case there would be problems in Sabah.
The agreement was signed on March 22, 1915 by then Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram 2nd and US-appointed Governor of Mindanao and Sulu Frank Carpenter.
The document gave the colonial authorities rights over sovereignty, tax collection and arbitration laws in exchange for an allowance, land and recognition as the religious leader of Sulu.
“The Kiram-Carpenter agreement assures the sultan of US protection should there be a problem in Sabah between the Sultanate and a foreign country,” Idjirani told radio dzBB.
The Kiram-Carpenter pact, he explained, recognizes that North Borneo is under lease by the British North Borneo Company, which in the ‘60’s ceded Sabah to the British government and later, to the Federation of Malaysia.
He expressed belief that the “agreement has not been abrogated and remains in effect up to this day.”
In reiterating the Sultanate’s ownership of the territory, Idjirani said that since 1870, Britain has been paying the sultanate 5,300 ringgit for the rental of Sabah.
However, the Malaysian government has insisted that the money was the cession of the territory.
US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas earlier said that his government will stay out of the Sabah issue because it is not covered by the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.
Idjirani explained the Sultanate has all the rights to appeal its claim on Sabah before an international body based on the provisions of the 1963 Manila Accord signed by the Federation of Malaya, Indonesia, and Philippines.
“Under the 1963 Manila Accord, our appeal has basis. The Sabah claim has not been decided upon by the United Nations, so we can tell Malaysia that the sultanate has the right to protect its interests over Sabah, especially the Filipino residents there,” he said.
Signed on July 31, 1963, The Manila Accord states that Malaysia and Indonesia “took note” of the Philippines’ claim on Sabah and the right of the Philippines to continue to pursue it in accordance with international law and the principle of the pacific settlement of dispute.
According to Idjirani, the three signatory-countries also “agreed to exert their best endeavors to bring the claim to a just and expeditious solution by peaceful means, such as negotiation, conciliation, arbitration, or judicial settlement as well as other peaceful means of the parties’ own choice, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and the Bandung Declaration.”
“This should have been the proper way our policymakers should have done. If Malaysia does not listen, we can appeal it to the United Nations where the Secretary-General can intercede,” he added.
In case the American government will not heed its appeal, he said the sultanate will seek British help.
Idjirani said the British government should also come to the picture to help solve the Sabah question, it being the “root cause” of the conflict in Sabah.
“The British should speak up. They are the root cause of this problem. They should clarify the historical background of the Sabah issue,” he added.
Relocation
Malaysia’s prime minister said on Monday authorities would relocate residents of areas deemed vulnerable to foreign infiltration as they continued to try to root out Filipino Islamic invaders.
Prime Minister Najib Razak’s announcement appeared to indicate a recognition that an armed invasion by more than 200 armed fighters had exposed deep-seated security problems in the eastern state of Sabah near the southern Philippines.
“The primary cause of the invasion of terrorists ... is the existence of settlements considered easily exposed to the danger of infiltration by illegal immigrants and stateless persons,” Najib said.
He added relocations would affect areas near the invasion site but could be expanded to the entire state, which for centuries has had a porous sea border with the southern Philippines.
Armed followers of Sultan Jamalul Kiram 3rd landed in Sabah six weeks ago to claim the state for their leader.
The incursion and a Malaysian counter-assault have left more than 70 dead—mostly invaders—according to authorities, and put a rare stress on Kuala Lumpur’s relations with Manila.
Najib gave no further details on the relocation plan.
However, the move could add to scrutiny of the Malaysian government’s policies in the state and whether they had facilitated immigration by large numbers of foreigners with questionable national loyalties.
There are an estimated 800,000 Filipinos living in Sabah, whose total population is just over three million.
Influx
Sabah natives have long grumbled over an influx of Filipino Muslims in recent decades. Critics accuse the government of encouraging the flow to shore up electoral support for the Muslim-dominated central government.
The government had repeatedly denied the allegation.
Malaysian forces launched an assault three weeks ago to crush the insurgents and claimed to have killed more than 60. Ten security personnel also died.
But the government has released only sketchy details on the operation and has indicated that they were struggling to stamp the invaders out amid fears militants may have melted away into area populations with the support of locals.
Last week, a Malaysian court charged eight Filipinos with terrorism-related offenses, which is punishable by death.
No effect
President Benigno Aquino 3rd expressed confidence that the Sabah conflict will not affect the ongoing talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
In an interview, the President said that both parties want to finish all of the annexes to the preliminary Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro that the parties inked October 15 last year.
When done, the four annexes, plus the FAB, will comprise the comprehensive agreement that expectedly spells out the measures to address the Moro people’s aspiration for self-governance.
“The Sabah issue should not affect the ongoing talks with the MILF,” the President said.
“ I think we’ve been very transparent. They haven’t changed. We want to finish all of the annexes,” he added
Mr. Aquino, however, said that they also “have to be able to come to an understanding on these annexes.”
“So that the crafting of the new organic act will be something that all stakeholders can agree to and rally behind to,” he added
De Lima report
Meanwhile, the President said that he has yet to see the report on the country’s claim to Sabah, which was submitted already by Justice Secretary Leila De Lima.
“I haven’t seen that. She said that she was giving it the last time we met… the following day,” Mr. Aquino said, noting that he has also “10 volumes” to study, not including the Sabah report.
“As you know, fast-approaching rin ‘yung deadline on appointments and there are something like 290 bills coming from Congress that need action on my part. So that has to go through the process,” he added.
Source: http://www.manilatimes.net
