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Lahad Datu News Compilation Thread
- Thread starter BlackRiders
- Start date
Friday March 22, 2013
Lahad Datu: Filipino accused says he ‘foolishly’ took part in Sabah intrusion
TAWAU: A Filipino accused of being part of a terrorist group told the High Court here yesterday that he had been “foolish” and that he was “paid” to join a group of intruders which occupied a remote seaside village in Lahad Datu.
Holland Kalbi said he was asked by “someone” to be part of the terror group and was paid for it.
“I was just being foolish,” said Holland who was among eight Filipino nationals who were produced before Tawau High Court judge P. Ravinthran yesterday.
Kalbi said this through a Bajau court interpreter when asked by Justice Ravinthran whether he had anything to say about the proceedings.
Justice Ravinthran subsequently advised him that he should bring this to the attention of his lawyer that would be arranged for him if he did not have one of his own.
Kalbi is one of four Filipinos charged under Section 130K of the Penal Code for being a member of a terror group.
The others are Lin Mad Salleh, Habil Suhaili and Timhar Hadir. All four face life imprisonment upon conviction.
Another two fellow Filipino nationals Atik Hussein Abu Bakar and Basad H Manuel also face a similar charge as well as being accused of waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong under Section 121 of the Penal Code that carries the death penalty.
The offences were alleged to have occurred between Feb 9 and March 3, 2013 at Kampung Tanduo or Kampung Tanjung Labian in Lahad Datu district.
Another two 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.
Both were accused of committing the offence on March 4 near the General Operations Force post at Kampung Tanjung Labian.
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 though only two of the accused faced charges that carried the death penalty, the prosecution would see that all eight would have legal representation in the interest of human rights.
He said he was in contact with the Sabah Law Association and the Bar Council over the matter.
He told the court that some of the accused would be jointly tried while there would be individual hearings for others as they were arrested at different places or time.
Police cordoned off the court house at Tawau town centre as early as 6.30am and the eight men were brought in an hour later.
At the start of the hearing, Justice Ravinthran granted Gani's application for the eight accused to be handcuffed or placed in straight jackets for security reasons.
Justice Ravinthran subsequently fixed April 12 for the cases to be mentioned.
Published: Friday March 22, 2013 MYT 11:26:00 AM
Updated: Friday March 22, 2013 MYT 12:20:38 PM
Lahad Datu: Normalcy returning as enemy pushed back, says IGP
KUALA LUMPUR: Security forces are winning the fight against the militants at Lahad Datu and normalcy is returning for the people there, said Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar.
"Only the remnants of the enemy remains and they are being pushed back and their situation is desperate," he said at a press conference in Cheras on Friday.
He added that the situation there was returning to normal as shops were begining to open and people were no longer afraid to leave their homes.
Published: Friday March 22, 2013 MYT 11:50:00 AM
Updated: Friday March 22, 2013 MYT 12:27:17 PM
Lahad Datu: No truth in hostage claims, cops say
By STEPHANIE LEE
Mopping up operations are continuing in Kampung Tanjung Batu to flush our remnants of Sulu gunmen.
LAHAD DATU: Police believe that there is no truth to a claim that six gunmen had slipped out of the Red Zone area and held hostages around Felda's Kembara Sakti area on Thursday night.
Sabah Deputy Police Commissioner Sr Asst Comm II Tan Kok Liang said Friday that they have found no leads to a claim by a woman that gunmen were seen in the area and had taken hostages.
``We have interviewed the woman and she was not clear about the details. Nobody else saw any movement of the gunmen in the area,'' Tan said at the daily Ops Daulat media briefing at the Felda Sahabat Residence about 165kms from here.
Since rumours spread, hundreds of the local residents in the area took refuge in the mosque while others left the Kembara Sakti area which is about 20kms from Felda Sahabat's main town of Cenderakasih.
Tan said police investigations were continuing in the area.
Meanwhile, he said mop up operations were continuing in the Kampung Tanjung Batu area for remnant gunmen.
Published: Friday March 22, 2013 MYT 2:17:00 PM
Updated: Friday March 22, 2013 MYT 4:10:11 PM
Lahad Datu: Teacher, nabbed for allegedly insulting security forces, may be charged
By CHRISTINA TAN
BATU PAHAT: A teacher arrested for allegedly insulting security forces over the Sulu terrorist intrusion in Sabah could face disciplinary, including the sack.
Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said the ministry's disciplinary board had carried out investigation on the alleged insult.
“The teacher has been released on police bail and is expected to be charged in court soon according to the police because it is a sedition case.
“He is suspended now and will face disciplinary action from the ministry next,” he said after attending groundbreaking ceremony of multipurpose hall and new school building of SJK (C) Chern Hwa in Bukit Pasir here on Friday.
Dr Mohd Puad said under the disciplinary proceedings the teacher faced possible dismissal, suspension of duty or pay or emolument, demotion to a lower classification or warning.
“Action taken will depend on the seriousness of the wrongdoings as well as court decision and punishment,” he said.
The teacher, in his Facebook posting, had allegedly insulted the security forces' personnel by referring to them as dogs and claiming that they had died in vain.
Eight policemen and a soldier were killed by the Sulu terrorists in villages in Lahad Datu and by Semporna, which prompted the government to launch an offensive on March 5 to flush out the enemy. One soldier died in a road accident.
Dr Mohd Puad said the ministry would not compromise on such seditious behaviour because it would raise doubts among the parents against teachers, who supposed to teach children about patriotism.
It is also against the ethics of the teaching profession and tarnish of the image of the profession, he added.
Published: Friday March 22, 2013 MYT 11:22:00 PM
Updated: Friday March 22, 2013 MYT 11:25:46 PM
Lahad Datu: No need to bring to ICJ to determine Sabah’s sovereignty, says expert
Dr Ranjit Singh.
KUALA LUMPUR: There is no need for Malaysia to bring the issue of Sabah's rights to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as historical and non-historical facts clearly show that it is a sovereign state of Malaysia, said historian Prof Emeritus Dr Ranjit Singh of Universiti Utara Malaysia.
He argued that apart from historical facts, the Sulu Sultanate and the Philippines had in fact lost their sovereignty rights of Sabah to Malaysia based on the principle of effectivity.
Despite being ruled by the Sulu sultanate, Sabah, which used to be known as North Borneo had been put under the administration of the British North Borneo Company in 1878 and later the British Empire, before being granted independence to form the Federation of Malaysia with Sarawak and Malaya.
"If you don't do anything to it, don't administer it, don't pass any law (in that area), you lost that title," he said at a discourse titled "The Lahad Datu Imbroglio: The Sabah Claim and Beyond" at Universiti Malaya, here, on Friday.
Citing the Pulau Batu Puteh case, Ranjit Singh, who also led the Malaysian team pertaining to the sovereignty of Pulau Sipadan and Pulau Ligitan at ICJ in 2002, said Malaysia lost its rights over the island to Singapore because, despite being the title holder, it (Malaysia) had never administered or was present physically on the island.
It was reported by a Filipino daily "Philippine Star" a few days ago that the Philippine government had not given up Sabah and had engaged a team of lawyers to study its claims on Sabah.
The issue of Sabah's sovereignty re-emerged after an incursion by a group of Filipino terrorists claiming to be the army of the now-defunct Sulu sultanate, in Lahad Datu and Semporna, which had led to a bloody clash between the Malaysian armed forces and the militants.
Ranjit Singh, who specialises on Sabah and Sarawak history, also said that the issue was non-negotiable as the will of the Sabahans must be respected whom through the Cobbold Commission of 1962 had chosen to form Malaysia with Sarawak and Malaya.
Ranjit Singh also urged Malaysia to stop any future annual cess payment to the sultanate and bring to a close the issue by coming up with a strong policy to protect the sovereignty of Sabah.
"The moment we negotiate, we compromise our sovereignty again," he said. - Bernama
Friday March 22, 2013
Lahad Datu: More suspects to be charged over terror acts
By RUBEN SARIO, MUGUNTAN VANAR and SHAILA KOSHY
[email protected]
TAWAU: More suspects arrested following the ongoing operations against Sulu gunmen will be produced in court and charged with a variety of offences in the coming weeks, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said.
He said police needed time to complete their investigations into the more than 100 persons who were detained following the offensive against the gunmen since early March in the wake of their intrusion at the remote coastal Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu district.
“Some of them are likely to be charged under the Penal Code and others, under the Immigration Act,” he said after leading the prosecuting team in the charging of eight men accused of waging war, terrorism or harbouring terrorists at the High Court here yesterday.
Gani said some of those arrested had been detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (SOSMA), like the eight charged at High Court yesterday.
The use of SOSMA was for procedural matters in court, such as not allowing bail for the accused.
He had gone to the ground in his native Lahad Datu and saw the difficulties encountered by the criminal investigation teams.
Meanwhile, the Sabah Law Association (SLA) is prepared to provide legal assistance to those arrested under Ops Daulat or charged, despite their limited resources.
In a statement, SLA said they had not been referred or assigned any cases involving those arrested under Ops Daulat as yet.
Their Human Rights and Legal Aid committees are working together to provide advice and representation.
The SLA urged the Philippines Embassy to liaise with them immediately if their citizens were arrested under Ops Daulat and later charged.
Their secretariat can be contacted by phone 088-232662, fax 088-232654 or e-mail at [email protected].
Malaysian Bar president Christopher Leong said the Bar had accepted the Attorney-General's invitation on March 15 to work with the SLA.
Sabah claim: History on Malaysia’s side
Anisah Shukry | March 22, 2013
A scholar gives three reasons why the Sulu Sultanate cannot assert sovereignty over the state.
KUALA LUMPUR: A scholar has urged Putrajaya to reject any call for a negotiation on the Sulu claim over Sabah, saying the issue was settled decades ago.
“Neither the Sulu Sultanate nor the Filipino government has a claim over the North Borneo state,” said DS Ranjit Singh, an expert on Southeast Asian political history who is now a visiting professor at Universiti Utara Malaysia.
“The moment we negotiate with them, we compromise our sovereignty,” he said in a talk at Universiti Malaya today.
He said the Sulu claim was futile for three reasons: the Philippine government’s predecessors renounced all claims over the state, the Sulu court has never administered the state, and the people of Sabah agreed to form Malaysia.
He said the sultanate lost its status as an independent entity after its capture by the Spaniards, which happened six months after the signing of the 1878 treaty stipulating that the British administrators of Sabah must pay cession fees to the Sulu court.
“Instead, the Spaniards became the sovereign rulers of the Philippines and it was they who renounced all claims of sovereignty over the territory in Borneo.”
When the United States took over the Philippines from the Spaniards, the American administrators in turn signed documents defining the international boundary of the country, Ranjit added.
“The Republic of the Philippines then inherited the Philippines from its predecessor, the US. So how can they claim in 1962 that Sabah is theirs when the predecessor has renounced that claim?”
According to him, these circumstances also give good reason for Malaysia to stop the monthly cession payment of RM5,300 to the sultanate. He urged Putrajaya to do so immediately.
Principle of effectivity
Ranjit also cited what he called the “principle of effectivity” as a reason why Sabah belonged to Malaysia and not the Philippines. According to this principle, an authority loses its title over a state if it has never administered it or passed any law for it.
Ranjit gave as an example the dispute over Pulau Batu Puteh between Johor and Singapore. Johor lost the case because it had never administered the island. He also pointed out that Sabah became independent on Aug 31, 1963, and agreed to form Malaysia on its own accord.
This was the essence of self-determinism, he added. “The people of Sabah did not say they wanted to join the Philippines. They preferred to form Malaysia.” Ranjit also cautioned Malaysia against taking the issue to the International Court of Justice out of respect for Sabahans.
“We can’t just tell the three million Sabahans that the court will be deciding their fate, and they may be dislocated,” he said.
“We have to respect the will of the people of Sabah.”
Sulu Sultanate to sue KL in International Court
March 22, 2013
A spokesman for the sultanate says there is no basis for Malaysia to file charges against eight Filipinos because it does not own Sabah.
MANILA: The Sulu Sultanate will sue the Malaysian government before the International Court of Justice in response to its filing of terrorism charges against eight of the sultan’s followers who were captured in Sabah, a crime punishable by death.
The spokesman of the sultanate, Abraham Idjirani, said their legal team was preparing to file a complaint of usurpation of authority and illegal development of natural wealth in Sabah against Malaysia.
“There is no basis for Malaysia to file charges against those eight Filipinos because it does not own Sabah. We are the rightful owners,” Idjirani said at the residence of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III in Taguig City.
This will be the third time the Sulu Sultanate will file a lawsuit against Malaysia. The first was filed in 1992 before the United Nations and the second was filed in 2004 before the International Court of Justice.
Idjirani said both cases were still pending because the ownership of Sabah had not been resolved. Maintaining that the Malaysia’s move was illegal, Idjirani said the moves to file terrorism charges against the sultan’s followers violated the 1963 agreement signed by the heads of Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia.
The 1963 Manila accord states that “the inclusion of Sabah into the Federation of Malaysia will not prejudice the interest of parties concerned until the issue of the Sabah claim is finally resolved by the United Nations.” “Malaysia is only an occupant of Sabah, so they have no right to file charges against those Filipinos,” Idjirani added.
He said the sultanate had no way to confirm whether the eight Filipinos were indeed members of the Sulu Royal Army that occupied Lahad Datu. President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday said the government would help the eight Filipinos charged with terrorism and waging war in Sabah.
“It is our obligation to protect the rights of our citizens,” the President said. Aquino said he had already instructed the Foreign Affairs and Justice Departments to give the Filipinos legal assistance. Under Malaysian laws, terrorism charges carry a jail term of up to 30 years while waging war against the King is punishable with death.
A group of Sabah-based lawyers have also expressed their intention to help the eight followers of the sultanate. The Sabah Law Association, in a report carried by the Malaysian press, said it was ready to ensure that the eight Filipinos are accorded due process.
Aquino earlier ordered an inter-agency team led by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. to come up with a roadmap to resolve the Sabah conflict peacefully.
Aquino said the Philippines was open to negotiating with Malaysia and embarking on a rules-based approach to resolve the Sabah claim similar to the case filed by Manila against Beijing to address the territorial dispute over Panatag Shoal.
The sultanate on Thursday slammed the Palace for dismissing an alleged assassination plot against the sultan and his family.
Idjirani said President Aquino should have at least ordered an investigation into the reported arrival in the country of the Malaysian hit squad to liquidate the sultanate officials.
- Agencies
Where is sultan’s army chief? PH military checking
By Marlon Ramos, Nikko Dizon
Philippine Daily Inquirer
3:23 am | Friday, March 22nd, 2013
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine military intelligence is checking reports that the leader of the armed group from the sultanate of Sulu that sparked the Sabah crisis has returned and is hiding in southern Philippines.
Malaysia’s military chief, Zulkifeli Zin, told a news conference in Lahad Datu, Sabah, on Thursday that Agbimuddin Kiram slipped out of the eastern Malaysian territory on March 11 and fled from one island to another for shelter.
“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,” Zulkifeli said.
Zulkifeli was commenting on recent allegations in a blog that Agbimuddin was shot dead by his own guard and that his body was buried in a place known only to his elite followers. In reply to a question whether Malaysian security forces would track down Agbimuddin in the Philippines, Zulkifeli said that it was out of their jurisdiction.
Bilateral ties
He said that further action could be taken through Malaysia’s bilateral ties with the Philippines. Agbimuddin led a 200-odd group in intruding into Sabah on Feb. 9. The group seized the coastal village of Tanduo to stake the Sulu sultanate’s claim to Sabah.
The group was discovered on Feb. 12, and the discovery sparked a standoff with Malaysian security forces that lasted for 17 days and exploded in violence on March 1. Fighting between Agbimuddin’s group and the security forces has killed 73 people—63 from the Sulu group, eight Malaysian policemen and two soldiers.
Agbimuddin has been reported killed in the fighting, but Abraham Idjirani, spokesnan for the sultanate of Sulu, has denied the reports, saying Agbimuddin is alive and still in Sabah. But Zulkifeli’s statements have caught the attention of the Philippine military intelligence.
“We’re checking, but nothing has turned up yet,” a source said when the Inquirer mentioned the Malaysian news report to him.
Malaysian flip-flopping
The Malaysian authorities themselves flip-flopped last week, first reporting that Agbimuddin has slipped out of Sabah then retracting the next day. Idjirani yesterday denied again that Agbimuddin has reentered the Philippines.
“Those are all propaganda and psy-war tactics,” Idjirani told the Inquirer. “If Malaysian security officials really believe what they are saying, they should order their forces back to Kuala Lumpur. Why are they still conducting operations in Lahad Datu?” Idjirani asked. “I challenge them to lift the naval blockade. I dare them to order their forces to leave Lahad Datu if [Agbimuddin] has really left Sabah,” he said.
No funeral
Lt. Gen. Rey Ardo, chief of the military’s Western Mindanao Command, said he tended to believe the Kirams’ claim that Agbimuddin is still alive because no funeral-related activities have been observed in Simunul, Agbimuddin’s village.
“If the locals in Simunul started a vigil, then we know he is really dead,” Ardo said.
Asked where Agbimuddin might be, Ardo said he had no idea.
—With a report from Allan Nawal, Inquirer Mindanao
‘Sabah raps terroristic’
Sulu sultan says charges against his followers illegal
By Marlon Ramos, Michael Lim Ubac
Philippine Daily Inquirer
12:13 am | Friday, March 22nd, 2013
Malaysia’s filing of terrorism and waging war charges against eight Filipinos is “illegal,” the sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo said Thursday. Abraham Idjirani, spokesman for the sultanate, told reporters that Malaysia’s move was tantamount to “usurpation” of the powers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III.
Idjirani said the sultanate would file a complaint in the International Court of Justice against the Malaysian officials responsible for the filing of charges against the eight Filipinos.
“We condemn this terroristic act of Malaysia because they do not own Sabah. They are only occupants. In fact, Malaysia is still paying rent to the sultanate of Sulu,” Idjirani said. “We are concerned that eight fellow Filipinos are now being accused of an offense that carries a penalty of death. That’s illegal because Sabah belongs to the sultanate of Sulu,” he added.
President Aquino said Thursday that he had directed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to retain lawyers to defend the Filipinos in the Sabah court. The government plans to prosecute the followers of Sultan Jamalul for causing the Sabah crisis when they return to the Philippines. Aquino said, however, that he had an “obligation” to ensure that the eight Filipinos got due process in Malaysia.
“It’s automatic for us to provide legal assistance to any of our countrymen facing charges (in other countries) regardless of whether we believe or not in their cause,” Aquino told reporters in Naga City.
Aquino was in Naga to proclaim the Liberal Party candidates for local offices in Camarines Sur. He said the DFA and the Department of Justice (DOJ) were focused on the Sabah crisis.
Access to detainees
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda told reporters that the President had directed Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario to retain lawyers for the eight Filipinos’ defense in Sabah.
Raul Hernandez, DFA spokesman, said the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur had reiterated to the Malaysian government the Philippine request to be allowed access to the Filipinos detained in Sabah.
Hernandez said the request included access to the eight Filipinos charged in connection with the Sabah crisis.
In straitjackets
The eight Filipinos, seven of whom were in straitjackets, kept silent as they were arraigned at the High Court in Tawau town, Sabah, on Thursday on charges of launching terroristic acts and waging war against Malaysian King Abdul Halim.
A Sabah radio station reported that the suspects entered no plea as the charges were read to them in Bajau and Tausug by an interpreter in the court of Judge P. Ravinthran.
The radio station said the eight were not represented by lawyers during the proceedings.
“They were placed under tight security throughout the proceedings and seven of them were in straitjackets,” a reporter for the station said. Arrested under Malaysia’s preventive security laws, the eight, whose ages ranged from 17 to 66, were charged in a temporary Magistrate’s Court in Lahad Datu district on Wednesday.
They face life imprisonment for terrorism and the death penalty for waging war against Malaysia’s king on conviction. Told that President Aquino had ordered the DFA to retain lawyers to help the eight Filipinos, Idjirani said: “Well and good. That’s a welcome development.”
He added: “I thank the President for doing that. I actually expect him to do that. At least now he showed that he’s a true Filipino.”
Third-party probe
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Thursday suggested that a third party acceptable to both the Philippines and Malaysia conduct a fact-finding investigation of the circumstances that led to the filing of charges against the eight Filipinos.
Santiago, a former chair of the Senate committee on foreign relations who has been elected to serve on the International Criminal Court in The Hague, said determining whether the Filipinos engaged in terrorism “should not be left to the Malaysian authorities alone precisely because we’re engaged in a dispute.”
She said that if Malaysia proceeded by itself, it could be charged with “bias of justice.” “It cannot be impartial justice if you heard only one side,” she said. “We need a third-party inquiry and fact-finding first so that we can determine whether the complaint of terrorism has justifiable ground under international law,” Santiago said.
She said the third-party investigation could be headed by “someone whom both parties can trust . . . somebody with the . . . gravitas of former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew or a former president or former prime minister from Southeast Asia who has retired with the respect of the Southeast Asian community.”
Sabah legal help
Malaysian Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail, who was present at the charging of the eight Filipinos on Wednesday, had asked the Bar Council of Malaysia to extend legal assistance to the accused.
But the bar president, Christopher Leong, said on Wednesday that peninsula lawyers were not licensed to practice in Sabah so the council would ask the Sabah Law Association (SLA) to provide legal assistance to the eight Filipinos.
In a statement issued later on Wednesday, the SLA said it had not been asked to extend legal assistance to the accused. But the association said that despite its limited resources it would provide legal advice and representation to the eight as well as other Filipinos detained in connection with the Sabah crisis.
Others detained
The eight, whose names were not released by the court, were among the first batch of the 107 people arrested under preventive security laws and detained following attacks on Malaysian security forces by a group of armed men led by Jamalul’s brother Agbimuddin Kiram.
Agbimuddin’s 200-odd group crossed the Sulu Sea and landed in Sabah on Feb. 9, seizing the coastal village of Tanduo to stake the Sulu sultanate’s ancestral claim to eastern Malaysian state.
The Sulu group’s presence was discovered on Feb. 12, sparking a standoff with Malaysian security forces that lasted for 17 days and erupted into violence on March 1. Agbimuddin’s fighters were routed but managed to regroup in a tight corner of Tanduo.
Air strikes and artillery barrages from the Malaysian military on March 5 forced the group to break up into small units, which have been skirmishing with pursuing security forces in Tanduo, Tawau, Semporna and Tanjung Batu since that Tuesday.
Casualties
Sixty-three members of Agbimuddin’s group, eight Malaysian policemen and two soldiers have been killed in the fighting. The 63rd casualty from Agbimuddin’s group was killed in a clash with military troops in Tanjung Batu on Wednesday. Sabah Police Commissioner Hamza Taib said a Malaysian soldier was wounded in the fire fight with Agbimuddin’s men.
Malaysian military chief Zulkifeli Zin said a woman, believed to be aged 40, was arrested following the clash with the Sulu group in Tanjung Batu. The arrest of the woman brought to 108 the number of people arrested and detained in connection with the intrusion of Agbimuddin’s group into Sabah.
Bodies buried
Zulkifeli said that so far Malaysian authorities had recovered the bodies of 30 of Agbimuddin’s slain men. He said 29 of the bodies would be temporarily buried because of the failure of the Philippine government to claim them.
With the large number of the Sulu sultan’s followers killed or captured, the Malaysian security forces believe the mopping up operations to end the intrusion are ending soon, Zulkifeli said.
Agbimuddin has not been captured. Zulkifeli said military intelligence had confirmed that the leader of the Sulu group managed to slip out of Sabah on March 11 and was hiding on one of the small islands in southern Philippines.
Philippine authorities, however, deny that Agbimuddin has been able to reenter the country.
—With reports from Norman Bordadora and Tarra Quismundo in Manila; Juan Escandor Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon; Allan Nawal, Inquirer Mindanao; and The Star/Asia News Network
Friday, March 22, 2013
Sulu Sultanate to ‘fine’ Malaysia for illegally developing Sabah
KUALA LUMPUR - Lawyers for the Sulu Sultanate are drawing up details of a US$25 billion (RM78 billion) suit against Malaysia for allegedly usurping authority and illegally developing Sabah’s natural resources, The Manila Times reported today.
The English daily said the sultanate plans to bring the matter before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as its response to Malaysia’s decision to file terrorism charges against eight of its followers in Sabah on Wednesday.
The US$25 billion “fine” is meant to represent Malaysia’s payment for “exploiting the natural wealth of Sabah”, which the Kiram clan continues to insist belongs to the Sulu Sultanate.
Sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani reportedly said yesterday that the charges in Malaysia were “illegal” and should not have been exacted against the eight individuals who were believed to be involved in the Sulu siege on the north Borneo territory.
“Walang basehan ang [There is no basis for] Malaysia to file charges against those eight Filipinos dahil hindi sila ang nagmamay-ari ng [because it did not own] Sabah,” Idjirani was quoted as telling a press conference in Taguig City, the Philippines.
“We condemn the terroristic act of Malaysia dahil sila ay hindi nagmamay-ari ng [because they don’t own] Sabah. They are just occupant so they have no right to file charges against Filipinos,” he added.
Idjirani also cast doubts over the identities of the eight who were charged, demanding the Malaysian authorities reveal where they had been apprehended.
He suggested that the eight may be mere civilians who were not part of the sultanate’s “royal army” which landed in Sabah on February 9.
Sulu “crown prince” Agbimuddin Kiram, the brother of “Sultan” Jamalul Kiram III, led a group of 235 armed militants to Sabah’s Lahad Datu on February 9 to stake the sultanate’s claim over the north Borneo state.
The intrusion has so far resulted in the deaths of 63 Sulu rebels, according to figures from Malaysian security forces, as well as 10 Malaysians, including eight policemen and two soldiers.
Malaysia launched Ops Daulat on March 5 to flush out the armed rebels after weeks of negotiation failed to result in a peaceful resolution.
Security forces are still conducting mopping-up operations today although intelligence officials believe that Agbimuddin has already fled Sabah to the Philippines.
Manila has said it will not abandon the sultanate’s claim over Sabah, even as Malaysian authorities insist the claim is no longer valid due to the inclusion of the state in the 1963 Malaysia agreement.
Clara Chooi
Friday, March 22, 2013
IGP blows top over former Sabah CM claim
A normally cool inspector-general of police (IGP) Ismail Omar today blew his top over former Sabah Chief Minister Harris Salleh's claim that his policemen have been destroying identity cards and other identification documents belonging to the Sabah Suluk community.
"I do not entertain any kind of rubbish talk... I have got no time for wild allegations - whether they are playing politics or what.
“If you say that, then bring me the evidence," he told journalists during a special interview session with the media at the Bukit Aman police headquarters this afternoon.
As he elaborated on the matter, his voice grew louder and he began slamming his fist on the table, his face contorted in anger.
"I have been quiet for some time, but let me say it right now! I don't entertain this rubbish talk. We are facing a situation (in Lahad Datu, where) my men have died.
"Even right now they are at the frontlines and their lives are at stake. Do you think this is playing around?" he exclaimed, as the room of surprised journalists looked on at his outburst.
Ismail said he feels slighted by the various allegations made against the police in a time when his men were risking their lives against the Sulu intruders in Lahad Datu.
'Don’t question police’
"What we need now is patriotism. It's not a time for (criticism)... I have heard a few statements made by certain people, I feel very sad at this point of time.
"If the police are no good, tell me how to improve. If you have money, give the money so I can buy more weapons and cars, not say this and that.
“It's irresponsible, it's not the time for this," said an agitated Ismail.
The IGP then praised the courage of his men and warned against toying with issues of national security.
“Stop! My message to all those responsible (for such allegations) is, stop all these nonsense,” he said at the top of his voice as the room fell into a moment of awkward silence.
A total of eight police officers and a solider have died since the Sulu intrusion first erupted into a clash on March 1.
Sabah-based newspaper Daily Express quoted Salleh claiming that police were destroying identity cards and work permits of the Suluk community in Lahad Datu and Semporna, following the clash between security forces and Filipino Sulu intruders.
Ismail said they treated everyone with dignity, even the enemy, dead or alive in accordance with international conventions.
"If we believe they were Muslims, we would clean the bodies and conduct Muslims funeral rites for them - these are the enemies," he said
Ismail later regained his composure and apologised for his behaviour, requesting television media present not to air his outburst although he allowed for it to be reported in print.
Nigel Aw
Friday, March 22, 2013
LAHAD DATU: Police doubts woman taken hostage
LAHAD DATU: Police cast doubts over allegations that a woman was held hostage by armed gunmen Kampung Embara Sakti on Thursday.
Checks on the woman's allegations revealed that they were false as there was a lot of inconsistencies in her claims. Furthermore, the woman has gone missing when police went looking for her to record her statement. It is learnt that she fled to Lahad Datu.
On Thursday, about 11am, security forces were put on alert after reports came in that gunmen had taken several people hostage in a house in Embara Sakti. They then stumbled across a woman who claimed that she had managed to free herself despite being tied by the gunmen, who had earlier forced her to cook for them.
She also told authorities that after she had escaped, the gunmen burnt down her house. Police immediately cordoned the house. However, the woman's claims could not be verified by anyone else including her neighbours. Even when police surrounded the house, they did not find anything.
Initial investigations revealed inconsistencies in the woman's report and when police wanted to record her statement, they found she had fled to Lahad Datu. Tan said there was a lot of rumours flying around at the moment which villagers panicked and got jittery when they heard about it.
However, he said many of these rumours had been probed and found to be merely hearsay. He advised the public to carry on with their lives and not worry. "Security forces have the situation well in hand and everything is under control. We appeal to the public not to worry about these hearsay."
As for the fire which razed the woman's house, Tan said the probable reason for the blaze was due to carelessness. "Investigations are still being carried out in the area and security forces have been stationed there to reaasure the villagers," Tan said.
Meanwhile, the state government will review the report submitted by the agencies who inspected Kampung Tanduo on Thursday. The National Security Council, Public Works Department, District Office and district police went to Kampung Tanduo to evaluate the damage.
The state government will later decide whether to compensate the villagers for their losses and the amount to be given out.
Friday, March 22, 2013
LAHAD DATU: Militants practise mysticism, their corpses decompose fast
LAHAD DATU: The militant group who intruded into Lahad Datu, claimed they are fighters of Islam, but the marks found on their bodies showed they were using elements of mysticism, which is un-Islamic.
Among the items found on the bodies of the terrorists were amulets which they believed couldmake the terrorists invulnerable and a calendar used to predict a suitable day to attack the security forces.
According to sources in the security forces, some of the terrorists who were shot dead, wore amulets and had tattoos of Quranic verses on their bodies.
"They might be immune to bullets but not all the time. In fact, a mortar explosion can kill them even if their skins were impenetrable," he said.
He said a body of a dead terrorist which had black marks believed to have been caused by a bullet, could have been killed by mortar fire.
"Strangely, the bodies of practitioners of mysticism are quick to decompose and covered with maggots within an hour.
"The corpse of a normal person will only be covered with maggots if left exposed for more than two to three days."
Sabah Armed Forces Religious Corps (Kagat) officer Major Anuar Mat Zin said Islam forbade the use of mysticism which idolised other beings besides Allah, in upholding a struggle because it deviated from the religious foundation.
He said, the action could damage the faith and turned their struggle futile.
"Idolatry in seeking power such as immunity (from bullets) is wrong in Islam. The religion does not accept such struggles regardless of the intention and aim," said Anuar, who was also involved in Operasi Daulat in Lahad Datu.
He said, the question of death was in the hand of Allah and nobody or power could avert it.
The terrorists, who were allegedly using mystic powers for invulnerability, also wore amulets and prediction cards, namely, the knowledge of Kutika, derived from the book Tajul Muluk and this was confirmed by the deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.
"It could be their belief," he told reporters at the Felda Sahabat 16 operation headquarters, near here, yesterday.
Member of Parliament for Silam Salleh Kalbi said the practice of mysticism by the terrorists did not reflect them as holy fighters (jihad) as certain quarters in the country tried to portray.
"According to Islam it is illegal to interfere in a sovereign nation, namely, its leaders are freely picked by the people.
"But it is allowed if the sovereignty of the nation is threatened like Palestine because it is to defend its sovereignty," he said, and added that the sacrifices of the security forces in defending a sovereign nation could be regarded as jihad. - BERNAMA
Published: Saturday March 23, 2013 MYT 12:45:00 PM
Updated: Saturday March 23, 2013 MYT 3:26:41 PM
Lahad Datu: Police arrest four people as part of mopping-up exercise
By STEPHANIE LEE
LAHAD DATU: A key coordinator for the Sulu terror group was among two couples arrested by police as they cracked down on the remnant members of the group that fled the Red Zone area of Tanjung Labian.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said Saturday that the terror coordinator and his wife were arrested in Semporna at about 10.30pm on Friday.
This was followed by the arrest of a suspected gunmen and his wife at Tungku area about 60km from the Felda Sahabat area, he told reporters during a media briefing at Felda Sahabat Residence.
The terror suspect arrested in Tungku is believed to linked to a Thursday incident in Felda's Kembara Sakti area where over 1,000 residents fled on hearing claims that gunmen were spotted in the area.
Many of the residents in the area have been reluctant to return to their homes.
The police are taking steps to urge them to return to their houses as the area is safe.
Kembara Sakti is about 20km from the Red Zone area.
Published: Saturday March 23, 2013 MYT 4:34:00 PM
Updated: Saturday March 23, 2013 MYT 8:56:39 PM
Lahad Datu: Kg Tanduo chief's son is coordinator for Sulu group
By STEPHANIE LEE
Khalid giving his assurance on security as he speaks to residents in Lahad Datu.
LAHAD DATU: A son of a former Kampung Tanduo village chief is believed to be the local coordinator for the Sulu terror group.
He was among four people, two of whom are key figures behind the group, who were arrested over the past 24 hours.
The other is the Sulu group's military commander who was picked up while hiding in the swamps in Semporna as police further crippled the Sulu terrorists network operating there and in Lahad Datu.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the two key figures were arrested with their wives.
Sniffer dogs take a breather with their handlers during Ops Daulat
He said the local coordinator, in his early 40's, was arrested with his wife in the Felda Sahabat area at about 10pm on Friday.
The man possessed a Malaysian identity card, he told reporters.
The man is being detained under the Immigration Act pending verification of his identification documents.
"He is an important figure as he was the one who arranged for accommodation, food, drinks and medical treatment since the group arrived here (Feb 9)," Khalid said.
He said the military commander, in his late 40s, was arrested at about 1am on Saturday and has a Philippines passport.
"Now we believe the group has been further crippled. They have lost their source of local support and they now have no direction," Khalid said.
He did not elaborate on the identity of the commander.
He said the arrests were made possible with the assistance of the local communities.
So far, 408 people have been detained under the various laws since the launching of the offensive against the Sulu terror group dubbed as Ops Daulat on March 5.
Another 108 people have been detained under the Special Offences (Special Measures) Act (SOSMA).
Sixty-three gunmen have been killed in the ongoing offensive.
On Thursday's Kembara Sakti incident in Felda Sahabat where more than 1,000 fled their villages after hearing that a woman was held hostage, Khalid said:
"From our initial investigation, what happened yesterday was made to be more serious that it actually is."
"There is no reason for the community there to feel afraid. They can return home. We will be with them,'' he added.
Khalid said he would be meeting the residents to assure them of their safety.
Published: Saturday March 23, 2013 MYT 8:55:00 PM
Updated: Saturday March 23, 2013 MYT 9:38:52 PM
Lahad Datu: Ahmad Zahid refutes claim commandos sent to kill Jamalul Kiram
Two military vehicles making their way into Kembara Sakti, Felda Sahabat in search for the Sulu gunmen in Lahad Datu.
BAGAN DATOH: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has refuted claims that Malaysia had sent commandos to the Philippines to assassinate self-styled Sulu sultan, Jamalul Kiram III.
He said Malaysian military forces would not intrude into the Philippines and were not "bloodthirsty" like the Sulu terrorists.
"I wish to tell Jamalul Kiram not to worry. No need to engage in reverse psychology just to get the sympathy of your supporters," he told reporters after presenting medals to 50 ex-servicemen here Saturday.
He was commenting on claims by Jamalul's daughter, Jacel, that a Filipino lawyer, Mario Lozada, had filed a complaint with the National Investigation Bureau of the Philippines on the alleged threat.
A report on this was carried on the news portal of the Global Nation Inquirer.
On a report in the "Philippine Star" that the Philippine government had never given up its claim on Sabah and had appointed a team of lawyers to study it, Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia had no intention to raise the matter with the International Court of Justice as the Cobbold Commission of 1962 had determined that the people of Sabah wanted to join Malaysia. - Bernama
Published: Saturday March 23, 2013 MYT 9:04:00 PM
Updated: Saturday March 23, 2013 MYT 9:38:40 PM
Lahad Datu: Nothing to fear, Musa Aman assures Suluk community
Sniffer dogs join the security forces to flush remnants of the Sulu gunmen at Nilam Permata in Lahad Datu.
KUDAT: The local Suluk community, who are citizens of the country, have nothing to fear, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
"It is not right to blame the local Suluk community in the state for the Lahad Datu intrusion because it was not done by them but followers of (Jamalul) Kiram," he said when launching the Yayasan Sabah with the Rakyat Roadshow on Saturday.
He pointed out that many of the people in Sabah had family ties with the Suluks.
"I don't think there are problems (but) we will defend Sabah to the end from outsiders attempting to invade the state.
"We concur with the prime minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) that Malaysia will never surrender even an inch of Sabah...Sabah belongs to the people of Sabah," he said.
It was for this reason that the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) was established, said Musa, who is also chairman of the state security committee.
The chief minister also disclosed that a police station would be immediately set up on Banggi island, located near the international maritime border on the northern waters off Sabah.
He later witnessed the presentation of contributions totalling RM35,000 for the Lahad Datu Perwira Fund from elected representatives and from an individual. - Bernama.
Sulu military commander captured
March 23, 2013
In a breakthrough, the police announced that they have detained a military commander of the Sulu intruders who landed in Lahad Datu Sabah last month
LAHAD DATU: Security forces have successfully crippled the movements of the terrorists from Sulu who intruded into Lahad Datu after capturing their military commander in Semporna, early this morning.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said the man, in his 40s, was detained with his wife at a swampy area at 1.30am after a tip off. He said the security forces also detained a local who provided all the needs of the terrorists from the early days of their landing in Kampung Tanduo on Feb 12 until today.
Without going into further details on the man who is in his 40s, Khalid said he was caught at 10pm yesterday in Kampung Tanduo and was now being held under the Immigration Act.
“The local coordinator has been identified as the individual who made arrangements for food and drinks, accommodation, transportation and medicine for the terrorists since the early part of the intrusion,” he said.
“With the capture of the commander and a local stooge of the terrorists, I am confident the terrorist group is now crippled,” he told a media conference at the security forces operations heaquarters at Felda Sahabat 16 near here today.
Khalid said with the capture of the two individuals, he believed the movements of the remnants of the terrorists were now limited and weakened as they were directionless and no longer getting assistance from locals.
Thanking the local community for furnishing information which had led to the capture of a most wanted individual, Khalid said “Operasi Daulat” (the offensive against the terrorists) which entered its 19th day today, would still be continued and expected the community in Lahad Datu would resume they normal lives soon.
Boosting confidence
On the latest statistics of Operasi Daulat, he said to date, 408 people had been detained for numerous offences, while the number of terrorists shot dead remained at 63. He said 38 bodies of the terrorists were also retrieved from the operation area, including eight which were taken out of Kampung Tanjung Batu yesterday.
The bodies were now undergoing post-mortems at the Lahad Datu Hospital, he said. On the incident in Kembara Sakti yesterday, Khalid said the number of security forces in the village had been increased to boost the confidence of the residents to continue their normal lives.
“There is no reason for them to be afraid and I advise all community members, residents and plantation workers in Kembara Sakti to return home as the security forces will always protect them,” he said.
He said preliminary police investigation found the matter to be only rumours which was exaggerated and caused worry to residents.
About 1,000 residents in Kampung Kembara Sakti were reported to have moved to a nearby religious school and mosque after a housewife claimed four hungry terrorists came to her house when she was alone and tied up her hands and feet.
The woman managed to free herself and escaped when the militants were busy looking for food.
- Bernama
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