Lahad Datu News Compilation Thread

[MidnightSun]

Sulu sultanate confirms Agbimuddin worked in Kudat, denies Malaysian citizenship claim

BY DEBRA CHONG
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
MARCH 20, 2013

Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III (2nd-R) prays with his family and supporters in Taguig, Metro Manila in this file photo of March 6, 2013. The Sulu sultanate has confirmed that Agbimuddin Kiram used to be a civil servant in a Sabah district office. – Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 – Agbimuddin Kiram was a civil servant in a Sabah district office, a spokesman for the Sulu sultanate confirmed today, but denied the militant leader had been granted Malaysian citizenship as alleged just hours earlier by the opposition PKR.

Abraham Idjirani, the sultanate’s secretary-general, told Philippines media in Manila that Agbimuddin had served as an assistant district officer in Kudat on Sabah’s north, backing PKR’s statement earlier this morning, which was based on a 1975 Sabah government payroll dug up from the state’s archives.

Idjirani however, maintained that Agbimuddin – who is the younger brother to self-styled Sulu sultan Jamalul Kiram III – is Filipino and was never issued a Malaysian identity card as asserted by PKR.

“That time they said ‘bigyan nyo kami ng IC, sabi ng Sabah authorities kahit hindi kayo bigyan, kayo ang may-ari ng Sabah’ [‘give us IC cards, but Sabah authorities told them, ‘even if we don’t give you, you own Sabah anyway],” Idjirani was quoted as saying by Philippine news portal InterAksyon this afternoon.

He also said the Kirams, who are seeking to reclaim their 17th century ownership over the oil-rich north Borneo state now under Malaysian control, had lived in Sabah after the 1968 Jabidah massacre.

The Jabidah incident reportedly marked the killing of 27 Moro Muslim youths recruited for a top-secret mission to invade Sabah, at the hands of the Philippines armed forces during the Marcos administration, according to a report in The Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper yesterday.

Idjirani also said he had spoken with Agbimuddin this morning where the latter had narrowly escaped death in Sabah after fresh clashes against Malaysian security forces today.

The Sulu sultanate’s “raja muda” or crown prince had led a 200-strong band of gunmen into Lahad Datu last February 9 and turned the Sabah east coast into a violent battleground in their bid to retake the state.

Idjirani said Agbimuddin had only his prayer beads and was unarmed in the 10.30am skirmish but survive the face-to-face encounter with Malaysian security forces which felled two Sulu militants.

Jacel Kiram, who is Jamalul’s daughter, and was present at the same news conference as Idjirani, was reported saying two of Agbimuddin’s men had shielded him from the gunfight.

“Noong nagkaroon ng encounter, close daw, masyadong malapit, nakita ng tao n’ya (When an encounter occured it was really close and his men saw) that a gun was about to fire at Raja Muda so he covered the Raja Muda and his people died in the incident,” Jacel was quoted as saying.

Idjirani said only 166 of the 235 Filipinos who sailed to Sabah with Agbimuddin remained and repeated the sultanate’s plea to Philippine President Benigno Aquino III to take a stand on the Sabah conflict and to “postpone his campaign sorties”.

 

[MidnightSun]

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Manila to take back intruders’ bodies

LAHAD DATU - The Philippines is making arrangements to take back the bodies of 28 slain Sulu terrorists.

A Philippines embassy official told theSun yesterday that his officials were liaising with Wisma Putra and have met with the police.

The Philippines Air Force is expected to despatch a Hercules C-130 aircraft for the repatriation which will be carried out by the end of the week.

Lahad Datu police chief Supt Shamsuddin Mat said the bodies will be released to Philippine officials once police get word from the Criminal Investigations Department.

It is understood that pathologists at the Lahad Datu Hospital are also completing post-mortems on the 28 bodies, including that of Haji Musa Abdullah, the "general" of the Sulu intruders and a female sniper.

The army has also recovered another 34 bodies of Sulu gunmen killed by security forces at three villages in Felda Sahabat. The bodies will be sent to the hospital in batches.

Sulu chieftain Jamalul Kiram III was reported to be not keen on retrieving the bodies of the fighters who landed in Sabah with arms under his orders.

"In line with the preaching of Islam, why would we still disturb the souls and the spirits of the deceased? They are now rested in peace," the Philippine Star quoted Jamalul's spokesman Abraham Idjirani as saying.

Meanwhile, police have been tight-lipped about when the first group of 107 people detained over the past three weeks on suspicion of having links with the Sulu intruders, will face charges.

It is learnt that for security reasons, the charges are likely to be read behind closed doors at the Tawau High Court.

Charles Ramendran

 

[MidnightSun]

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Sulu Sultanate not keen on retrieving fighters' remains

MANILA - The Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo is not keen on retrieving from Sabah the bodies of its 28 fighters who have been reported as killed by Malaysian security forces since March 5.

“In line with the preaching of Islam, why would we still disturb the souls and the spirits of the deceased? They are now rested in peace,” said Abraham Idjirani, spokesman of the sultanate.

“You know, among Muslims, kuntento na ang isang tao basta mailibing siya within 24 hours,” Idjirani added.

According to the teachings of Islam, a deceased person must be buried within 24 hours after his or her death. After the 17-day standoff erupted in a firefight on March 1, the Sulu sultanate asked Malaysia for a ceasefire to be able to bury their dead.

Since March 5, Malaysian security forces had conducted offensive operations to flush out Kiram’s followers. According Sabah Police Commissioner Hamza Taib, 61 of the sultan's followers had been killed from March 5 to 15.

The Malaysian government had written the Philippine government regarding the repatriation of the bodies in three days, although it did not specify the dates for this period.

"We have sent the letters through our Foreign Ministry. In fact, today there will be a meeting between the Foreign Ministry and the Philippine Embassy. Technically the three-day period has not lapsed yet," Taib said in a report by news network GMA-7.

Propaganda

Idjirani said the offer of the Malaysian government to have the remains of the dead fighters retrieved and sent back to the Philippines is just another “black propaganda.”

Idjirani said should the Sultanate of Sulu agree to retrieve their dead fighters from Sabah, the retrieval team should be guaranteed immunity from arrest or harassment by a neutral country.

“Now the proposition of Malaysia is another black propaganda. First of all, there is no definition of conditions on how the retrieval is to be done. It is also very alarming on the part of the Sultanate of Sulu as without the intercession of a neutral country, Malaysia could order the arrest of the retrieval team and accuse them of being members of the Royal Security Force,” he said.

Idjirani added that the retrieval of the deceased fighters should be covered by media both local and international and be made in the presence of a neutral humanitarian organization such as the Red Crescent or the International Committee of the Red Cross.

He also said that Malaysia should also allow an independent group to conduct autopsies on the remains of the dead sultanate fighters to prove that they were indeed killed in combat and were not tortured to death.

“If that should happen, we challenge Malaysia to allow an independent body to conduct autopsies on the remains. We have still to solicit the consent of the relatives,” he said.

Idjirani believes that the 10 fighters earlier reported as captured by Malaysian security forces could have already been killed. He said that the refusal of Malaysia to present the 10 could mean that they are already dead.

By Mike Frialde (ph)

 

[MidnightSun]

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

LAHAD DATU: 'Locals a part of the problem'

LAHAD DATU - THE community leader lit up a cigarette as he spoke of the problems caused by illegal immigrants in Sabah.

He blamed the lax security for not being able to tackle the presence of many illegals, who have had a free reign to smuggle in, among others, contraband cigarettes.

"Just like the type I am smoking now," he said of the Astro brand cigarette that he bought at RM3 on the streets here from immigrant pedlars.

Oblivious that his purchase had contributed to sustaining the livelihood of illegal immigrants in the state, he said: "Those 'legal' cigarettes are just too expensive."

This community leader is not the only culprit.

The transient population is feeding off the convenience they provide the locals, from cheap goods to cheap labour, and that makes almost everyone responsible.

None, however, wants to take the blame, not even the community leader who said the enforcement authorities and security forces were not doing their job properly.

The arrival of the armed terrorists from the southern Philippines last month and the eventual battle to flush them out at Felda Sahabat had been an eye-opener of the threats, posed by the illegals.

Society, however, remained dependent on their supply of cheap products and services; and for that, they will keep coming.

District officer Zulkifli Nasir said many locals were in denial that they were a part of the problem because of the demands they created by buying the goods the illegals sold cheaply and hiring cheap labour.

He recounted how he came under fire when he tried to remove about 200 makeshift stalls at a parking lot at Dataran Palma here.

"From a few romben- gan stalls selling second-hand clothes, they turned the area into a full-fledged illegal flea market that eventually became a threat to traders running legitimate businesses."

When Zulkifli initiated the move to tear down the stalls, he was criticised by locals who backed the illegal Indonesian and Filipino traders.

"Despite this, the illegal structures were torn down. If we had allowed the area to remain as it was, it is tantamount to giving recognition to their illegal activities."

For some time now, Indonesian and Filipino immigrants have been coming to Sabah because of the hardship they face in their countries.

Zulkifli said they were willing to do anything, legal or otherwise, to earn their living.

 

[MidnightSun]

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Gov’t to take Sabah claim to int’l court after review

MANILA - The Philippine government is ready to bring the country’s Sabah claim before international courts even as it gathers evidence to buttress its position while pursuing dialogue to end the violence in the territory.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda announced the development in a press briefing yesterday where he also pointed out that a “win-win” approach to ending the violence in Sabah is for the followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III to lay down their arms and leave the territory peacefully.

“So what win-win solution they have, it’s all in their hands. We have always batted for a peaceful resolution to this conflict. So I have no idea what they have in mind. I think the burden is on them. We’ve always said that, ‘lay down your arms and let’s talk’. But this has gone beyond that: the violence, blood has been spilled; and so, it’s really up to Mr. Jamalul Kiram,” Lacierda said.

He also clarified that Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras was talking about the possibility of the government addressing the Sabah issue using the same legal tack being used in resolving the Panatag Shoal dispute with China.

“Secretary Almendras said the President has tasked Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to study the matter. If the group finds basis to file a claim, the Philippines will then elevate the matter to the international courts where, as in the Bajo de Masinloc case, the government will be retaining private lawyers to handle the claim, if necessary,” Lacierda said.

The STAR’s interview with Almendras and acting Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman was done on March 6 at The STAR office in Port Area in Manila and not in Corregidor Island on Monday. Aquino and some Cabinet officials were in Corregidor last Monday during the commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the Jabidah massacre.

In his discussion with The STAR editors and reporters, Almendras said there was no way the Aquino administration could be accused of giving up the Sabah claim because they were spending so much “getting lawyers to follow the legal processes.”

In the same interview, Almendras said De Lima had told the media that “we are preparing a legal study on how to revive” the Sabah claim by going to the International Court of Justice.

But Lacierda said this did not mean lawyers had been hired since a study was still being made.

“And, based on what Secretary Almendras told me, if there is a basis for the claim and the recommendation is to pursue the claim, then obviously – as in the case of the Panatag Shoal, as in the case of China – we will elevate it before international courts; and, in that instance, we will be hiring lawyers, private lawyers, to handle the case,” Lacierda said.

Almendras and Hataman said there was no consulate or any official presence in Sabah until this time and that should dispel impression that the government had given up its claim. “The fight is not yet over,” Hataman said.

Lay down arms

On reports that the sultanate had lifted its ceasefire declaration and that its followers in Sabah would fight back if attacked by Malaysian forces, Lacierda said “obviously, they have been decimated so what’s the effect of the lifting of the ceasefire?”

“You’ve been reporting everyday that there are some casualties and, some days, there are none. So, obviously, it didn’t matter to the Malaysians whether the ceasefire was lifted or not,” he said, addressing the sultanate.

“Again, our call here is for a peaceful resolution and, apparently, we are onboard, other countries are onboard, but the sultanate is not onboard in this matter,” Lacierda said.

He decried Kiram’s rejection of “disengagement” as supposedly agreed upon between his brother Esmail and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II.

“We have done and we continue to do… What’s the price of adventurism? Filipinos in Sabah…We are also taking care of their people from Sabah coming home and we’re providing assistance to all these things. We continue to do our efforts,” he said.

Lacierda also said they were verifying reports that Kirams’ supporters were tortured by authorities as claimed by Sultan Fuad Kiram I.

Fuad, who is claiming to be the legitimate ruler of the Sultanate of Sulu and Sabah, said that many Tausugs who had fled Sabah had marks of torture.

“We are verifying those reports in media. Number one, we need to verify those reports first. DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) is on the ground and they are documenting. We have not received any reports yet on that. So we’ll validate,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda said that while embassy officials were able to visit some of the evacuation areas in Sabah “we only follow the reports also in Sabah that the Malaysian authorities provide us.”

“It seems that there’s no fighting as… there’s no bombing incident anymore. I am not clear with what the Malaysians are doing right now. But it seems like there has been no large-scale fighting in Sabah and our Philippine embassy team has been able to visit some of the Filipinos there in Lahad Datu, in Felda Sabahat,” Lacierda said.

He also said they had no new information on Kiram’s brother Agbimuddin, who was leading the sultan’s armed followers in Sabah. “Malaysian authorities have not been able to locate him yet,” Lacierda said.

“As far as we are concerned, our concern right now – which wasn’t anticipated by the Kiram family – is the status of those Filipinos who are now coming home because of what happened in Lahad Datu. So we’re taking care of that now. We’re ensuring and providing assistance to those people who have left Sabah,” he said.

Lacierda said Malaysian authorities have not responded yet to Manila’s request for consular access or legal assistance to the sultan’s followers in custody.

“Malaysian authorities are saying there are security concerns. So we hope that those security concerns will be resolved so that we will have access to the followers of Kiram under their custody,” he said.

Consular services

But consular services including issuance of passports and processing of travel documents have been made available to thousands of displaced Filipinos in Sabah wishing to return to the Philippines.

Two officials from the embassy, including Vice Consul Francis Herrera, left Kuala Lumpur on Monday, to join the embassy’s humanitarian/consular team in Lahad Datu.

There are two embassy humanitarian/consular teams attending to the needs of Filipinos in Sabah – one in Lahad Datu and the other in Tawau.

Labor Attaché Alicia Santos said human resource managers of 17 companies have informed the embassy that their Filipino workers are safe.

“The humanitarian/consular teams are operating on a mobile basis, going to areas where their services are most needed. They are assisted by the embassy’s network of Filipino community leaders in reaching out to our nationals,” said Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia J. Eduardo Malaya.

The Philippines has no permanent consular presence in Sabah.

Earlier, upon the request of the embassy, the Department of Education and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas conducted a joint “needs-assessment mission” in Sabah to determine how best to provide alternative education to children of undocumented Filipino migrants who have limited access to public schools.

For the same endeavor, the embassy partnered with the Borneo Child Aid Society which runs some 120 Humana Child Aid alternative learning centers in Sabah’s vast plantation estates, as well as with the Indonesian Children Education Awareness Foundation and the Society for the Education of Needy Children in admitting more Filipino children in their schools.

“We are most grateful to the Filipino community leaders for being our pro-active partner in uplifting the welfare of the Filipino community in Sabah,” Malaya said.

Appeal for unity

While the government continues to fend off criticism of its handling of the crisis, Sen. Francis Escudero is appealing to politicians and the public in general to support the President’s Sabah initiatives.

“Let the president decide on the Sabah issue. Let’s respect and support the President because he’s carrying a heavy burden,” Escudero said in Filipino in a press briefing in Malolos City.

He explained that in dealing with Sabah crisis, it is important that the country speaks in one voice. “Let’s not expose our dirty laundry in public. Let the President do the talking and let’s support him – right or wrong. Payback time should come later,” he said.

The re-electionist senator also asked candidates in the coming polls to refrain from taking advantage of the issue.

“Let’s not dip our fingers into it. National interest is the issue here, not improving the image of politicians,” he said.

He also scoffed at proposals that the country send an armed group to rescue the sultanate’s remaining followers in Lahad Datu. He said Malaysia is unlikely to allow a foreign armed group to intrude into its territory.

Escudero said Malacañang had exercised the same restraint in dealing with the Chinese on the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal issue.

“Had we sent Navy ships to Scarborough, the Chinese would have made the same move or even more,” he said.

In Tagum City in Davao del Sur, United Nationalist Alliance senatorial candidate Mitos Magsaysay said President Aquino must personally appeal to the Prime Minister of Malaysia to stop the attacks in Sabah.

Magsaysay also expressed relief that the President had finally acknowledged the legitimacy of the Philippines’ Sabah claim.

“Why didn’t he talk to the Malaysian prime minister? Everytime there is death, it will get worse, the situation will get worse. He should appeal because it will not die down,” Magsaysay told reporters. With Pia Lee-Brago, Jose Rodel Clapano, Dino Balabo.

By Aurea Calica PhilStar

 

[MidnightSun]

Published: Thursday March 21, 2013 MYT 8:45:00 AM
Updated: Thursday March 21, 2013 MYT 1:46:09 PM

Lahad Datu: Eight charged in Tawau High Court over Sabah incursion (Updated)

By RUBEN SARIO

One of the eight Filipinos arriving at the Tawau High Court on Thursday.

TAWAU: Two Filipino nationals allegedly involved in the intrusion by Sulu gunmen at a remote coastal village in Lahad Datu face the death penalty for waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The duo - Atik Hussein bin Abu Bakar and Basad H Manuel - were charged in the High Court here Thursday under Section 121 of the Penal Code for waging war.

They, along with four other Filipino citizens - Holland Kalbi, Lin bin Mad Salleh, Habil Suhaili and Timhar Hadir - were also accused of being part of a terror group.

The charge framed under Section 130KA of the Penal Code provides for life imprisonment upon conviction.

Two other men - Kadir Uyung and Lating Tiong - also face life imprisonment after being charged under Section 511 of the Penal Code for harbouring a terrorist group.

The charges were read to all eight when they were produced before judge P. Ravinthran.

No plea was recorded from the eight men following an application by Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail who led the prosecution team.

Gani told the court that although only two of the accused faced charges that carry the death penalty and would be provided counsel if they did not have their own lawyers, the prosecution would endeavour to see that all eight were represented, in the interest of human rights.

The court fixed April 12 for the cases to be mentioned and Abdul Gani said he would strive to ensure that all eight accused would have legal representation by then.

The eight were among the first batch of 108 people detained under preventive security laws following attacks against Malaysian security forces.

On Wednesday, the eight, aged between 17 and 66, were charged at a temporary Magistrate's Court in the Lahad Datu district police headquarters.

The case was transferred to the High Court here for hearing following an application by the prosecution.

 

[MidnightSun]

One Sulu terrorist shot dead, woman detained in Ops Daulat

MARCH 21, 2013

LAHAD DATU, March 21 — A terrorist was shot dead by security forces during an operation in Kampung Tanjung Batu at 1.30pm yesterday, bringing the death toll to 63.

An unarmed female militant in her late 40s was also arrested in the operation.

Armed Forces Chief Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin (picture) said the incident was a follow-up to a shootout at 11.30am which left a soldier with an injured finger due to bullet fragments.

“Our team continued to pursue the terrorists and a shootout broke out, in which our personnel killed one of them and detained a woman.

“Our injured personnel was sent to a nearby hospital and is reported to be stable after surgery,” he said during a news conference with Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar at the Felda Sahabat 16 Operations Headquarters near here today.

On the possibility of Kampung Tanduo residents returning home, Zulkifeli said an evaluation team comprising the National Security Council, Lahad Datu District Council and Lahad Datu police headquarters will be despatched to the village by tomorrow to assess the overall situation before allowing villagers to go back.

He said the delay in allowing residents to return home was to ensure that the area surrounded by swamp, forest and undergrowth was fit for occupation after it had become the main target of the terrorists.

“It is easy to evaluate physical damage, but in terms of security we must be very sure that it is safe for residents,” he said, adding there were 12 houses in the village.

In a related development, Zulkifeli denied allegations that a group of men from Sabah would be sent to the Philippines to assassinate Kiram, saying it was baseless and ridiculous.

Meanwhile, Khalid, when asked whether the authorities had proof to charge eight terrorists in court, he said: “Of course, but (we) cannot reveal it and if there is no proof, how can we convict them.”

He said any quarters who had doubts on this need to wait for the trial and to direct their questions to Wisma Putra.

Eight Filipinos were charged at the High Court in Tawau, and two may face the death penalty, for allegedly waging a war on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Four were charged as being members of a terrorist group while two others were charged with harbouring a group of terrorists.

They are among 108 individuals who were being investigated under the Security Offences (Special Measure) Act (SOSMA) 2012.

On the latest statistics of the intrusion, Khalid said the bodies of 30 terrorists were removed and post-mortem was carried out, however, no one had come forward to claim the bodies.

The number of arrests made under SOSMA remained at 108, while 268 people were arrested according to other acts so far, he said. — Bernama

 

[MidnightSun]

Teacher who allegedly insulted security forces freed on police bail

MARCH 21, 2013

KOTA BAHARU, March 21 – The teacher who was arrested for allegedly insulting security forces over the Sulu terrorist intrusion in Lahad Datu through his Facebook has been released on police bail.

Pasir Puteh district police chief DSP Mohd Kamal Zainal said the man was released as his remand period had expired.

The 37-year-old teacher of a school in Tok Bali, Pasir Puteh, was arrested about 7pm last Thursday for allegedly referring to members of the security forces as dogs and claiming that they had died in vain. – Bernama

 

[MidnightSun]

Agbimuddin left Sabah on March 11, says armed forces chief

MARCH 21, 2013

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 – Malaysian security intelligence confirmed today that Sulu militant leader Agbimuddin Kiram fled Sabah after Day 7 of Ops Daulat and has been escaping capture by island hopping in southern Philippines.

Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin (picture) said the self-proclaimed crown prince of the Sulu Sultanate left his army of over 200 gunmen in Lahad Datu on March 11, during the height of mopping-up operations by local security forces.

The elusive rebel leader has since been moving from island to island to seek shelter and has yet to be caught by the Philippine authorities, Zulkifeli was quoted saying in a report by national news agency Bernama.

“Azzimudie (Agbimuddin) is believed to have done so to avoid his location from being detected by the Moro people, and for fear that he will be arrested by the Philippine authorities,” he reportedly told a press conference this afternoon.

According to Bernama, Zulkifeli was reponding to allegations in the blog mymassa.blogspot.com that claimed Agbimuddin had been killed by his own guard and his body buried in a place only known by his followers.

The armed forces chief also reportedly said that it was out of the Malaysian military’s jurisdiction to spread its hunt for Agbimuddin to the Philippines, adding that any further action could only be taken by using the country’s bilateral ties.

Agbimuddin and his group of militants landed in Sabah on February 9 to stake the Sulu Sultanate’s claim over the north Borneo territory which it insists had been gifted to them in the 17th century by the Borneo Sultan.

After attempts at peaceful negotiation failed, Malaysian security forces moved in on the group of armed men who were holed up in Kampung Tanduo on March 1, resulting in the deaths of 20 Sulu gunmen.

Subsequent skirmishes saw eight Malaysian policemen killed.

On March 5, Ops Daulat was launched to flush out the militants by force, resulting in the confirmed deaths of 63 Filipino gunmen as of yesterday, eight policemen, two soldiers and an unidentified teenage boy.

The Malaysian authorities have also arrested 108 people under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), 268 under other Acts and charged eight Filipinos with waging war against the King, in relation to the armed incursion.

 

[MidnightSun]

Published: Thursday March 21, 2013 MYT 6:37:00 PM
Updated: Thursday March 21, 2013 MYT 6:57:15 PM

Lahad Datu: "I was asked and paid," says Sulu accused in terror trial

TAWAU: The High Court was told by one of the men charged with engaging in terrorism in Sabah that he was asked and paid to do so by someone.

Hooland Kalbi, who spoke in the Bajau language and translated by the court interpreter, said he was foolish for doing so, but judge P. Ravinthran told the court interpreter to explain to him (accused) that it was not necessary for him to say that as his plea would only be recorded after he had obtained a lawyer.

Hooland was among the eight Filipino charged in the High Court here today with engaging in terrorist activities in Sabah. Two of them were also charged with waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

This is the second time that a charge for waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is made in the country after an incident by the Al Maunah group at Bukit Jenalik Sauk, Perak, in 2000.

Meanwhile, Timhar Hadir, who is also charged with engaging in terrorism, told the court that he entered Malaysia last February using an international passport.

He was prevented from saying more by Ravinthran without consulting his lawyer.

Another accused charged with the same offence was Habil Suhaili, believed to be in his 60s, who took quite sometime to understand the charge made against him.

The charge was read to him several times in Suluk.

Habil said he did not commit the offence, but was told by the judge that his plea would not be recorded.

The first accused, Atik Hussin Abu Bakar, who spoke in Bajau, sought the court to explain the charges made against him.

Besides being charged with engaging in terrorism, he is also charged with waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The other four accused, Lin Mad Salleh, Basad Manuel, Kadir Uyung and Lating Tiong, said they had nothing to say.

Basad is charged with engaging in terrorism and waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, while Lin is charged with engaging in terrorism.

Kadir and Lating are charged with protecting the terrorist group.

All the accused were not allowed bail.

Meanwhile, journalists and photographers covering the case were strictly monitored by armed policemen.

Only one journalist from each media organisation is allowed into the court and they are only allowed to bring in their note book and pen.

No foreign journalist is seen covering the proceeding today. - Bernama

 

[MidnightSun]

US says will not interfere in Sabah crisis

BY CLARA CHOOI
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
MARCH 21, 2013

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 – The United States has adopted a hands-off approach to the Sabah crisis, even saying today that it would not respond should the Sulu Sultanate invoke the 1915 Kiram-Carpenter pact.

According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas said the US was not involved in any way in the conflict between the Sultanate and Sabah, as it was a matter for Malaysia and the Philippine governments to resolve.

He, however, acknowledged the Sultanate’s plans to invoke the 1915 agreement with the Kiram clan and the US colonial governement, which included “full protection to the sultan of Sulu should the question of Sabah arise in the future between the sultanate and any foreign authority.”

But Thomas said the US would not respond to the treaty.

“We’re not looking to respond in any manner to that invocation of the treaty. We do not see this as a security matter that affects the United States or our Mutual Defense Treaty that we have with the Philippines in any manner,” he was quoted saying in the Inquirer.

“I can’t stop them from you know speaking but again as I said this is not something were involved and we do seek to be involved in any way,” he reportedly added.

Thomas was also quoted saying that the US government would never interfere in the sovereign rights of the Philippine government or attempt to influence either Philippine president Benigno Aquino III or Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in resolving the conflict.

The Sulu Sultanate had recently said it would seek intervention from the US to solve the ongoing crisis over the ownership of Sabah, the north Borneo state that it insists still belongs to it.

Under the 1915 agreement, signed by then US-appointed Mindanao and Sulu Governor Frank W. Carpenter and the Sulu Sultan, the sultan’s and his heirs’ rights to temporal sovereignty, tax collecton and arbitration laws were relinquished in exchange for an allowance, land and recognition as a religius leader.

But according to the Inquirer, the agreement did not cover the territory of Sabah or north Borneo, which the Sultanate had already at the time leased to the British North Borneo Company.

According to the Sultanate, however, the US has a “moral obligation” to protect the Sulu Sultan in the matter of Sabah.

“We will remind them of their moral obligation. That obligation is not to use violent means but to help find a solution,” Sulu Sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani had said when announcing plans to invoke the agreement recently.

The Sultanate, the Philippine government and Malaysia are still in a deadlock over the Sabah crisis where Malaysian security forces are still on the hunt for members of the “royal” Sulu army.

The army, led by the Sulu “crown prince” Agbimuddin Kiram, had landed in Sabah last month to lay the Sultanate’s claim over the territory, resulting in more than a month of bloodshed as Malaysian forces move to flush out the militants.

 

[MidnightSun]

Filipino accused in Lahad Datu incursion will be assigned lawyers: AG

MARCH 21, 2013

TAWAU, March 21 – The eight Filipino men who were charged in the High Court here today for alleged involvement in the terrorist incursion in Lahad Datu will be assigned lawyers to defend them, said Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail.

“This is in the interest of justice and on humanitarian grounds. Hence, why I requested of the court not to record their plea today,” he said.

He said the Attorney-General’s Chambers would contact the Philippine embassy tomorrow on engaging lawyers to represent them considering the gravity of the charges.

Two of the accused are facing the death penalty under Section 121 of the Penal Code for waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The rest are facing up to 30 years’ imprisonment under Section 130KA of the Penal Code for terrorism.

“There is a provision for legal representation in Section 121 so the government can assign lawyers through the court for the two accused.

“Although Section 130KA does not carry the death sentence, I have given an assurance to the court that I would obtain legal representation for them,” he told a media conference at the Tawau police headquarters here today.

He said he would also discuss with the Sabah Law Association (SLA) for assistance.

According to him, Bar Council president Christopher Leong had responded positively when he contacted him yesterday morning about providing legal counsel.

“But the SLA is the legal representative here, so I will leave it to decide,” he said. – Bernama

 

[MidnightSun]

Manila authorities deny Malaysian assassination plot on Kirams

BY CLARA CHOOI
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
MARCH 21, 2013

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 — The Philippine government and Manila security officials have rubbished talk that a Malaysian hit squad has been sent to assassinate Sulu “Sultan” Jamalul Kiram III and his supporters.

The Manila Standard Today cited several security officials as refuting the claim made by sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani to the media on Tuesday, adding that checks by local intelligence units showed that no such “hit squad” was in the Philippines in search of the “royal family”.


No such Malaysia plot to kill Jamalul, say Philippine authorities. — Reuters pic
“Verification made by the intelligence community has yielded negative results so far. Verification is still going on, but off hand, the intelligence community is giving this report a very low probability,” National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia was quoted saying in the daily’s online report today.

Garcia added that checks by intelligence agents on the names of the “assassins” allegedly billeted at the Maxim’s Hotel at Resorts World in Pasay City had returned with “negative results”.

The security adviser added that the Philippine government would not allow any harm to come to the Kiram family, who had allegedly engineered the armed incursion in Sabah last month to stake ownership over the north Borneo state.

“The Philippine government does not tolerate assassins whether local or foreign, and it will proceed against any wrongdoers if and when the evidence warrants,” Garcia said in a text message, according to the Manila Standard.

The paper also cited a source from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as saying that the agency has receive no report to support the sultanate’s claim of an assassination plot by Malaysia.

During an interview on TV in the Philippines, Manila Standard said Philippine national police spokesman Chief Supt Generoso Cerbo Jr had also said that they have yet to verify any such threat against the Kiram clan, who currently reside in Taguig City, Manila.

“Our policemen are regularly monitoring Kiram’s home,” Cerbo reportedly told national television.

On Tuesday, Idjirani was reported by Philippine news portal Interaksyon as saying a Malaysian colonel he named as Sunny Ng had arrived in the Philippines with a four-man “hit squad” and enlisted the services of three people from the New People’s Army from Quezon province.

A Filipino lawyer, who had formerly acted for Jamalul’s adviser Pastor “Boy” Saycon, had leaked the purported assassination plot to the sultanate, Idjirani was reported saying.

He added that the unnamed lawyer had been approached by a Malaysian businessman named Kenneth Lee, at the colonel’s request, to seek out details to Jamalul’s address.

“In the light of this development, we would like to ask the government: Have we surrendered our sovereign control (of our country) that we allow a Malaysian hit squad... to perform their terroristic acts in the Philippines?” Idjirani was quoted as saying. The news portal also reported Jamalul saying he was not afraid of the “hit squad”.

“Why would I fear them? I have not seen them. Maybe if I see them, I will just run,” Jamalul was quoted as saying.

The ailing “sultan”, however, called on Philippine authorities to investigate the claimed assassination plot.

In refuting the claim, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda criticised the Kirams for allegedly fabricating the assassination plot.

“[This is] another tall tale coming from the Kiram family,” he was quoted saying by Manila Standard.

Jamalul’s younger brother, Agbimuddin Kiram, had last month led some 200 followers into Lahad Datu on Sabah’s east coast to reclaim the north Borneo state they insist belonged to their clan and was only leased to the British in the late 1800s, although it is internationally regarded to be a part of Malaysia since 1963.

Malaysia had attempted to negotiate a peaceful end to the armed intrusion for three weeks from February 9 but resorted to combat after the Sulu militants refused to leave.

A total of 62 Sulu gunmen have been killed in separate clashes to date while Malaysia has lost eight policemen and two soldiers.

A teenage boy of unknown nationality has also died in the conflict.

Malaysia’s security forces nabbed three people suspected of having links with the gunmen in Sandakan on Monday, raising to 107 the number of people held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.

Yesterday, eight Filipinos were charged in a magistrate’s court in Lahad Datu with waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, after their armed intrusion in Sabah ended in deadly clashes with security forces.

The eight men were charged under the Penal Code with waging war against the King and for terrorism.

The charges were read to them in the Bajau and Suluk languages at a makeshift court at the district police headquarters in Lahad Datu.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar led the prosecuting team. Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail is also in Lahad Datu to supervise the prosecution.

 

[MidnightSun]

Authorities urged to reveal if Sulu militants are ‘Project IC’ Malaysians

BY BOO SU-LYN
MARCH 21, 2013

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 — PKR has urged the government to reveal if the Sulu militants who invaded Sabah last month were given blue identity cards (ICs) under Project IC.

The Sulu sultanate said yesterday that Agbimuddin Kiram — the brother of self-proclaimed Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III — was never issued a blue IC, but admitted that he had worked as an assistant district officer in Kudat on Sabah’s north.

“The confirmation (by the Sulu sultanate) raises worries among many quarters whether the armed group in Lahad Datu involves Malaysians originating from the Philippines who hold blue identity cards,” PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli (picture) said in a statement today.

“This matter raises the possibility of threats to national security, as a result from certain parties allegedly linked to (former Prime Minister) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who allegedly gave citizenship without due process,” he added.

Dr Mahathir, Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister who was in power from 1981 to 2003, has been accused of spearheading the so-called “Project IC”, in which citizenship was allegedly given to immigrants for their votes.

PKR said yesterday that Agbimuddin was appointed in the civil service in 1974, based on a 1975 Sabah government payroll dug up from the state’s archives.

The Sulu sultanate’s spokesman, Abraham Idjirani, reportedly said yesterday that Agbimuddin was still alive after fresh clashes against Malaysian security forces that killed two Sulu militants yesterday.

The Sulu sultanate’s “raja muda” or crown prince had led a 200-strong band of gunmen into Lahad Datu last February 9 and turned the Sabah east coast into a violent battleground in their bid to retake the state.

Rafizi also urged the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah to continue its proceedings to expose the illegal issuance of ICs in the Borneo state.

The RCI is due to resume on April 15, according to RCI secretary Datuk Saripuddin Kasim.

The RCI, which was formed on August 11 last year, has an additional six months to complete its probe after receiving the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s consent.

Former Sabah National Registration Department (NRD) officers have testified at the RCI that blue ICs were sold to Filipino, Indonesian and Pakistani immigrants in Sabah.

 

[MidnightSun]

Ex-CID chief accuses AG of ‘hiding facts’
Lisa J. Ariffin | March 21, 2013

Mat Zain Ibrahim says the AG had neglected in his duties in informing the severity of the Sulu invasion to the Agong and the Cabinet.

PETALING JAYA: Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail was today slammed for not immediately reacting to the Sulu invasion in Sabah which led to deaths of 10 Malaysian security personnel.

Former KL CID chief Mat Zain Ibrahim today said Abdul Gani should have immediately advised the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong and Cabinet ministers on the legal aspects as stated in the constitution.

“If from the first day the AG had advised the Agong that the actions of more than 150 armed intruders can be classified under the law as waging a war against the Agong, then the latter would not have hesitated to command his troops to launch a suitable retaliation to save the country and himself,” Mat Zain said in an open letter to IGP Ismail Omar.

“The first information received on the invasion… is more than enough to erase all doubts that they were waging a war against the King and not for any other reason,” he added.

Mat Zain accused Abdul Gani of knowing that the intruders’ actions were against the constitution, but had deliberately refused to advise the Agong.

“Gani’s deliberate delay in advising the Agong and Cabinet is not only irresponsible, but can be classified as high treason,” Mat Zain said.

He claimed this was not the first time Abdul Gani had “hidden real facts from the Agong”, and said this was “becoming a norm” for the latter to not disclose information to the rakyat.

“Moreover, despite all the testimony on Abdul Gani, the prime minister (Najib Tun Razak) refuses to take action against him for reasons unknown,” he said.

“However, now that the intrusion has been classified as waging a war against the Agong, the PM has no choice but to advise the Agong to set up a tribunal to scrutinise Abdul Gani’s behaviour for failing to perform his duties as AG,” he added.

Uninformative statements

Mat Zain then blamed Abdul Gani for the deaths of the 10 Malaysian policemen and said their sacrifices could have been avoided if the former had reacted to the situation immediately.

He also blamed their deaths on uninformative statements issued by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Sabah chief minister Musa Aman on the invasion.

“Their decision to hide the real situation was deliberate and had led to the deaths of 10 of our men,” he said.

“(Their statements) would have affected the troop’s cautiousness and readiness to fight.”

Yesterday, a high-powered prosecution team led by Abdul Gani had put forward its case against several members of the detained Sulu armed group involved in the intrusion into Sabah.

Eight people from southern Philippines were charged in the makeshift court with engaging in terrorism and waging war against the Agong.

 

[MidnightSun]

US keeps distance from Sabah crisis

March 21, 2013

US ambassador to the Philippines says his country is leaving it to President Aquino and Prime Minister Najib.

MANILA: Unlike in the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China, the United States is distancing itself from the conflict in Sabah, as Malaysia continues to go after a group of Filipinos from the Sulu sultanate wanting to claim their homeland.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas said the US was leaving it up to both Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to resolve the issue as he expressed hope that the matter would be resolved peacefully.

In a meet with defence reporters Thursday, Thomas said the Sabah problem was “not a matter for the United States.”

“We do not see this as a security matter that affects us or the Mutual Defense Treaty we have with the Philippines,” he added.

The online news portal InterAxyson quotes the ambassador as saying the US was not involved and does not want to be involved in the problem “in any way.”

The Sulu sultanate earlier said it might seek US help in backing up its claim to Sabah by invoking the 1915 Kiram-Carpenter agreement which would reportedly give the sultanate American protection.

The agreement states that the Americans “assured the sultan of Sulu of (its) full protection should a problem arise in Sabah between the sultan of Sulu and other foreign countries,” Abraham Idjirani, sultanate spokesman, earlier said.

But Thomas would not comment on the agreement and if it still applies now.

“This is a matter between the government of the Philippines and the government of Malaysia. We hope that anyone who’s displaced can be taken care of,” he said.

Thomas, meanwhile, said the US was “very pleased” that the peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front was not affected by the Sabah conflict.

- Agencies

 

[MidnightSun]

38 terrorists Sulu want their cases investigated again

Young Mohd. Noor | March 21, 2013

This group wants to Tawi-Tawi district court ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to conduct investigations on their back.

MANILA: A total of 38 persons accused terrorists detained Sulu Tawi-Tawi asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) of the Philippines to conduct investigations of criminal charges against them.

The first batch of 38 terrorists from Sultan Jamalul Kiram III will face charges in the Philippines after the attacks in Sabah since last month, Xinhua reported yesterday.

The accused, who is now detained at the naval base in Chief Sugala, was charged with illegal possession of firearms and instigate war and take up arms in their efforts to retake Sabah from Malaysia.

Assisted by the chief public attorney, Persida Rueda-Acosta, this group wants to Tawi-Tawi district court ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to conduct investigations on their back.

In a four-page statement, the arrested men said they were not given adequate opportunity to refute the charges filed by the Justice Department in court last week.

Pay bail

Therefore, they asked the court to specifically instruct the Justice Department to do the initial investigation in which they will be given the opportunity to put the counter counts.
Tawi-Tawi Court also asked to allow 38 accused to pay bail for their temporary release.

Around 200 followers Kiram landed in Sabah last month. Ten members of the security forces and dozens Malaysia Sulu armed terrorists were killed.

Meanwhile, more than 100 terrorist Sultan of Sulu, will be presented in courtrooms in the state.

"All 107 followers Sulu on charges of alleged possession of weapons, illegal entry into Malaysia and have dubious personal documents," said Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib.

Some of them have begun to face court in Tawau yesterday.

 

[MidnightSun]

Kirams: Aquino only heeds advice of Malaysian sultan

By Marlon Ramos , Michael Lim Ubac
Philippine Daily Inquirer
2:52 am | Thursday, March 21st, 2013

Jacel Princess Kiram and her father, the Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III. GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines-President Aquino Is listening to advice from a Malaysian sultan Sabah in dealing with the crisis? The daughter of the Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III wanted an answer to That question from Malacañang. She got it, plus Plaque for her family's Sabah Adventure That limit already cost 72 lives.

Jacel Princess Kiram on a news conference Wednesday Told That Aquino was heeding the advice of Sultan Ibrahim Ismail of the Sultanate of Johor, Malaysia, on the Sabah crisis. Princess Jacel also rates criticized the President for "lawyering for the Malaysians" and for his supposed Statements that "only favored the Interests of Malaysia."

"Who is Sultan Ibrahim?" Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda asked Sulawesi a press briefing in Malacañang. Lacierda said it was the first time for him to hear the name of Sultan Ibrahim. "The Kirams are raising innuendos left and right, pointing to everyone but themselves," he said.

"How does one expect this government to support an armed adventurism and approach to an issue That has. . . festered since the 19th century? "Lacierda asked.

'Foolhardy adventurism'

"In Their Zeal to press for Their proprietary claim, for hire not have resorted to arms, and now That Their foolhardy adventurism has cost precious lives, for hire lay the blame on everyone except themselves," he said.

Citing "sources Malacañang," said Jacel Ismail and his late father, Sultan Mahmud Iskandar, stayed with the President and his family in Boston, Massachusetts, in the 1970s.

Abraham Idjirani, the Sultanate's Spokesman and secretary general, said Aquino's father, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.., Who underwent heart surgery in Boston, was a close friend of Ismail's father. "They (the President and Ismail) Knew each other way back," said Jacel.

"Who is (Ismail) ... to you? Is he the person showroom is why the President would not listen to advice from the Any Any political Counsels of his? "She said, reading from a statement Hilman.

"Mr. President, was he the SAME person who lived with you in Boston When your father was there? What does he not have to do with your act Regarding this issue? "She asked.

Aquino’s consultant

Asked by reporters to explain the matter, Jacel said Ismail “is the consultant. He gives advice to the President.”

Idjirani also urged the President to temporarily stop joining the campaign rallies of his administration’s senatorial candidates and handle the problems of Filipinos being deported from Sabah.

“We appeal to the President to at least sit down and for a while postpone [campaigning] and do [as] Indonesian President (Susilo Bambang) Yudhoyono [is doing for] 8,000 reportedly harassed [Indonesians] in Sabah,” Idjirani said.

“We appeal to the President to take a stand on the deportees now being shipped from Sabah without being taken care [of by our government],” Idjirani said.

Mahathir ally

Jacel said the President’s closeness to Ismail, who she claimed was an ally of former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, could also explain why Aquino’s statements and actions were “pro-Malaysia.” “(Ismail) could be the link. The sultan of Johor is so close to him,” Jacel said.

“I’m really dismayed about the way our President decides and for his statements that are very pro-Malaysian.” Of the leaders of the 13 Malaysian states, the sultan of Johor is considered among the most powerful, she said.

When told about Jacel’s claims involving the sultan of Johor, Lacierda said Malacañang did not have to comment on every accusation from its critics. “She should answer this first: She should explain why she came out with a picture purportedly showing Malaysian casualties (in the fighting in Sabah), but they turned out to be Thai casualties,” Lacierda said.

“She’s now [telling] a new tall tale.” Lacierda noted that the Kirams come up with “new names” as the Sabah crisis continues.

‘Tall tale’

Jacel also told the news conference that a lawyer who supposedly knew of the alleged plan to kill her father and his supporters went to the National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesay to file an affidavit about the purported assassination plot hatched by a Malaysian military officer.

Lacierda dismissed the story about the alleged plot as possibly “another tall tale coming from the Kiram family.” Jacel said lawyer Mario Lozada met with Sunny Ng, a colonel in the Malaysian Army, at Genting Palace restaurant in the Resorts World casino complex in Pasay City on Monday.

She said the meeting was arranged by Malaysian businessman Kenneth Lee, who was connected with a Malaysian firm where Lozada worked as a legal consultant. “They intimated to (Lozada) that they are here to assassinate the sultan and his friends (including his adviser Pastor Saycon),” Jacel said.

Saycon appeared at the NBI headquarters on Wednesday to “explain the threat” against the Kirams. He said five Malaysians headed by Ng arrived in the country to assassinate him and the Kirams. Saycon told reporters he would ask the NBI to investigate after Malacañang dismissed the threat without ordering an investigation.

Jacel said the NBI and military officials had committed to look into the supposed plot to assassinate Sultan Jamalul, members of his family and their followers. “Malaysia is emboldened to act radically because of the (President’s) pro-Malaysian statements,” she said.

Idjirani disclosed the alleged plot on Tuesday, saying that Ng hired three “NPA (New People’s Army) recruits” to carry out the mission.

‘Validate it’

Lacierda said the Kirams should “validate the story” by naming names. “That’s a story that came from them. What can you expect us to say?” he said. Lacierda later forwarded to reporters a text message from National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia that described the probability of the supposed assassination plot as “very low.”

“Verification made by the intelligence community has yielded negative results so far. A check conducted on the alleged presence of certain named individuals in certain hotels also came up with negative results,” Garcia said. “Verification is still going on but off-hand, the intelligence community is giving this report a very low probability,” he said.

Sabah deal?

For his part, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari said the government was not keen on pursuing the Kirams’ claim to Sabah because of Malaysia’s involvement in the peace talks between the Aquino administration and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Misuari told reporters last week that when Malaysia offered to help facilitate the peace negotiations, Sabah was at the center of the discussion. In exchange for brokering a peace deal with the MILF, Misuari said, Malaysia asked the Philippines to drop its claim to Sabah.

“That’s the biggest issue because they (Malaysia) are earning a lot of money from there. The MILF deal was put together to give Sabah to Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

—With reports from Erika Sauler in Manila and Jeoffrey Maitem, Allan Nawal and Ryan Rosauro, Inquirer Mindanao

 

[MidnightSun]

8 Filipinos face death, life terms in Malaysia

Terrorism charges filed under KL laws

Philippine Daily Inquirer
12:04 am | Thursday, March 21st, 2013

Malaysian policemen leads away a suspected INTRUDER from Sulu in Lahad Datu on Wednesday. MALAYSIA'S THE STAR / ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Malaysia Criminal charges brought against eight Filipinos on Wednesday, more than two weeks after it a Standoff in Sabah between Malaysian Security Forces and an armed group from the Sultanate of Sulu That erupted into violence killed 72 people.

More than 100 others face similar charges.

It was not clear whether the eight were the first captured followers of the Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III who, together with more than 200 others, Slipped into Sabah on February 9 and Seized the coastal village of Tanduo in Lahad Datu town to stake Their Ancestral clan's claim to the eastern Malaysian territory.

The eight men, whose Ages Ranged from 17 to 66, did not enter a plea, and no further hearing immediately dried dates were scheduled as the case was being transferred from a Sabah district court to a Higher court, according to the state-run Bernama news agency.

Abraham Idjirani, Spokesman for the Sultanate of Sulu, condemned the filing of terrorism charges against the eight Filipinos, saying Malaysian prosecutors not have not fully disclosed the evidence in the complaints Used against the suspect.

Feared he said Idjirani the rights of the eight men were Being violated And that there was a lack of transparency in the handling of cases Their.

"In the first place, These Filipinos, if indeed they were Involved, Their rights were just defending Because Sabah belongs to the Sultanate and the Filipino people and Malaysia is just the administrator," Idjirani said.

Urged Idjirani the Malaysian Authorities to release the Suspects and Called on the administration of President Aquino to provide prototypes with legal assistance.

Completion of the Malaysian Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail asked the Bar Council of Malaysia and the Sabah Law Association to provide legal Representation for Detained followers of the Sultan of Sulu.

Christopher Leong, vice president of the bar council, said Wednesday his group would talk to Abdul Gani about Giving legal assistance to the detainees.

Police filed charges of terroristic acts launching under Section 130A of the Penal Code and Waging war against Malaysian King Abdul Halim under Section 121 of the code against the eight men in a makeshift Courtroom in Lahad Datu.

Section 130A ORARI shabby for a term of up to 30 years, while Section 121 ORARI for the death penalty on conviction.

Twelve members of the armed group led by Jamalul’s brother, Agbimuddin Kiram, were killed and 10 others were captured when Malaysian police launched an assault on Tanduo on March 1, after a 17-day standoff.

The assault ended in a rout for Agbimuddin’s group, which led to the spread of violence to other parts of Lahad Datu, triggering evacuations of entire villages to avoid casualties among the civilian population.

Fifty other men from Agbimuddin’s group were killed in skirmishes with Malaysian police and military troops in three other villages in Lahad Datu where the sultanate’s followers spread out after the rout in Tanduo.

Eight Malaysian policemen and two soldiers were killed in fighting between the security forces and small units from Agbimuddin’s group.

Others facing charges

Malaysian police arrested 107 people in other villages in a crackdown on Jamalul’s supporters in Sabah.

Those arrested include suspected members of Agbimuddin’s group, uniformed personnel and villagers who might have directly or indirectly abetted the Sulu group.
Police said the 107 people were arrested in Lahad Datu, Semporna, Kunak, Sandakan and other parts of the state.

Sabah Police Commissioner Hamza Taib said on Wednesday the suspects were being investigated for various offenses, including possession of offensive weapons, suspicious personal documents and illegal entry.

Hamza said the suspects were arrested under the Security Offenses (Special Measures) Act of 2011 but would be charged under the Penal Code.

Fighting continues

Skirmishes between Malaysian troops and about 50 men from Agbimuddin’s group were reported in Tanjung Batu on Wednesday as the military cleared the area of the Sulu sultan’s followers.

There were no immediate reports of casualties on either side. The fate of Agbimuddin remained uncertain Wednesday despite reports that he managed to slip out of Sabah after the March 1 rout of his group.

Malaysian military chief Zulkifeli Zin said on Friday that Agbimuddin had fled to southern Philippines and most likely hiding in Tawi-Tawi. His family in Manila insists Agbimuddin is still in Sabah and that reports that he has abandoned the sultan’s followers there as propaganda of the Malaysian government.

Agbimuddin will be arrested if he returns to the Philippines. Thirty-eight members of his group who slipped out of Sabah were intercepted by the Philippine Navy off Tawi-Tawi last week and were charged in court there.

“Our police and Navy are on the lookout for him,” Tawi-Tawi Gov. Sadikul Sahari was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper of Malaysia about reports that Agbimuddin was in hiding in the south.

The Malaysian and Philippine governments had sought for weeks to end the occupation of Tanduo peacefully by urging Agbimuddin’s group to leave without facing charges.
But the killing of two Malaysian policemen by Agbimuddin’s men on March 1 sparked the police assault that dislodged them from Tanduo.

The recovery of the beheaded bodies of two other Malaysian policemen in Semporna on March 2 drew air strikes and artillery attacks from the military.

Clearing operations

The operations continued Wednesday, with armored personnel carriers (APCs) entering Tanjung Batu to clear the village of Agbimuddin’s men. Hamza explained that APCs had better mobility compared with military tanks and could have better access to rugged areas within the zone of security operations.

“We are better equipped now and we expect to complete clearing the Tanjung Batu area in the next 24 hours,” Hamza said.

—Reports from Allan Nawal, Inquirer Mindanao; AP and The Star/Asia News Network

 

[MidnightSun]

Seven of eight Filipinos brought to Sabah court in straightjackets

By Allan Nawal
Inquirer Mindanao
6:01 pm | Thursday, March 21st, 2013

DAVAO CITY, Philippines-Eight Filipinos, seven of prototypes forced to wear straightjackets, remained silent and ENTERED no plea When they were arraigned in a court in Sabah's Tawau district on charges of terrorism and Rebellion in connection with the occupation last month of a village in Lahad Datu by followers of the Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III, two Malaysian radio stations reported Thursday.

A Sabah-based private radio station as well was the state-run Radio 24 said none of the accused, aged between 17 and 66, ENTERED pleas When the charges were read in Bajau and Tausug by an interpreter BEFORE High Court Judge P. Ravinthran.

The private radio reported That no lawyer was present to Assist the eight Filipinos Sulawesi arraignment. The Bar Council of Malaysia said it was interested in Completion of proceeding the accused its services.

"They were placed under tight security this belief of the proceedings and seven prototypes were in straight jackets," a reporter of the radio station said.

The terrorism and Rebellion charges stemmed from the bloody aftermath of the "Homecoming" of Kiram's so-called "royal army" in Sabah. The charges were filed in the Initiating Magistrate's Court in Labuan on Wednesday, also rates serta accused were arraigned. But the case was subsequently transferred to the High Court in Tawau, reported Radio 24 Selatan is Operated by the state-run National News Agency Bernama or Malaysia. It did not say who ordered the transfer or why.

Sixty-two suspected gunmen Sulu and 10 Malaysian soldiers and policemen limit Been killed since March 5, Kuala Lumpur When the government decided to launch an assault on what it Called a group of "terrorists," led by Kiram's Younger Brother, Agbimuddin Kiram.

The eight accused were Azizuzanadi 107 Filipinos suspected gunmen or suspected local Sulu Supporters of the Kirams who were Arrested by Malaysian Security Forces in Sweeps in the Districts of Lahad Datu, Tawau, Kunak, Sandakan and Semporna.

Radio 24 confirmed That as in Wednesday's arraignment, none of the accused ENTERED Any plea. Radio 24 said Malaysian Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail led Prosecution.

Like the Sabah-based radio station, Radio 24 said no lawyer assisted the accused Sulawesi Lingo proceedings.

Radio 24 reported the judge as Ordering the attrorney general to determine whether defense lawyers will be "appointed by the Bar Council of Malaysia, the Philippine government or the accused themselves."