Manila: The Filipino Sultan of Sulu has declared a unilateral ceasefire in Sabah, but Malaysia has rejected it and vowed to destroy all 200 members of the Royal Sultanate of Sulu who occupied a village in Lahad Datu on February 9, where they are being hunted by Malaysian forces, the clashes of which have killed almost 30 people.
“We are urging the government of Malaysia, to follow the Royal Sultanate of Sulu’s unilateral declaration of hostility, so that the two adversaries could process to the halls of United Nations (for peace talks),” Ebraham Idjirani, spokesman of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III said in Maharlika Village in Metro Manila’s suburban Taguig.
“The Sultan (Jamalul Kiram III) is calling for a unilateral ceasefire of the sultanate of Sulu effective this hour, 12.30 in the afternoon of Thursday,” said Idjiarni, adding it was made “out of respective” and “in deference to” the call of United Nations Secretary Ban Ki-moon that violence in Sabah should end “to preserve lives” and to pave for the holding of peace talks.
Members of the Royal Sultanate of Sulu will take a defensive stance, said Idjirani, adding, “The call for the unilateral ceasefire of his royal highness Sultan Jamalul Kiram III was (also) in view of the reported massacre committed by the Malaysian authorities against 40 innocent civilians in Lahad Datu last Wednesday.” He did not give details.
For the first time, the Filipino-Muslims who have occupied Tanduao village, two hours way (by bus) from Lahad Datu town, agreed to hold their fire, despite earlier calls for it from Philippine President Benigno Aquino.
In reaction to the UN’s call for peaceful dialogues to resolve the issue, Idjirani said the dialogue should involve the Malaysian government and representatives of the Royal Sultanate of Sulu.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid said: “Do not trust the ceasefire offer by Jamalul Kiram. In the interests of the people of Sabah and Malaysia, destroy all the militants.”
Members of the Royal Sultanate of Sulu must surrender unconditionally, said the Malaysian senior official.
At the same time, Malaysian Attorney General Abdul Gani said that Malaysia will ask the Philippine government to extradite Sultan Kiram after criminal charges are filed against him in Malaysia.
Reporting on casualties suffered by the Royal Sultanate of Sulu, Idjirani claimed that only 10 men from the Royal Sultanate of Sulu were killed, four were wounded and 10 more were arrested.
Only 215, including four who were wounded are with the royal Sultanate of Sulu, said Idjirani, adding that the data on casualties coming from Kuala Lumpur might include civilians.
From the UN, Ban called on international agencies to “facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance and act in full respect of international human rights norms and standards”.
