All about the genuine Sabah Claim Society

ATTENTION! This blog is the genuine Sabah Claim Society.

We are Philippine patriots who have grouped together from around the world and who created the Sabah Claim Society group originally on Facebook on 15 July 2011 and counted close to 6,000 members.

But on 5 October 2011 our group on Facebook was traitorously hijacked by two people we had invited to join us as group admins but who, we learned later on, had been hired to sabotage our patriotic group by a group of sinister individuals sporting fake European sounding nobility titles and other spurious Tausug/Sulu titles ['bestowed' and indiscriminately distributed on Facebook] and organized by a combined team of charlatans namely a datu (sporting a fake sultan title) and the latter's handler who is conveniently sporting an absolutely fake 'princely' title as well.

Please be warned that the said group of individuals, we believe, are in fact con artists out to "claim" Sabah for "get rich quick" reasons and are not genuine Philippine patriots. Their motive, we have discovered, is to be able to convince Malaysians that they are genuine Sulu royalty and pro-Philippine Sabah claim supporters in order to extract from Malaysia (which has control of Sabah today) a premium for letting go of the Sabah claim.

For more information on the Philippine Sabah claim, please join the ongoing discussions by clicking on the following link on Facebook: Philippine Sabah Claim Forum

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Monday 31 December 2012

HM Sultan Muedzul-Lail T Kiram sends his very best wishes for a prosperous and successful New Year 2013 to all Defenders of the Philippine Sabah Claim...

Photo of the Consecration of HM Sultan Muedzul Lail T Kiram, 35th Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah) in September 2012 in Maimbung, Sulu, seat of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah); shown in the picture together with HRH Pangian Mellany S. Kiram.




Sunday 16 December 2012

Consecration of HM Muedzul-Lail Tan Kiram, 35th Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah)

The Consecration in September 2012 in Maimbung, Sulu of HM Muedzul-Lail Tan Kiram, 35th Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah), shown in the picture together with HRH Pangian Mellany S. Kiram.

Sunday 2 December 2012

It would be easy to negotiate with Tausug warrior Nur Misuari

AT THE END OF THE DAY, NUR MISUARI CAN BE A 'SOFTIE'... NO! NO! That's not meant to malign the MNLF founder and legendary Tausug warrior but merely to say that he is human and appreciates, like many of us, respect and a minimum of courtesy. 

That was actually my reaction after reading a news report in today's Freeman that said, 
"The stance of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari against the framework agreement may soon soften as a result of the Aquino administration's "talks" with the leader of the former rebel group."


It reminded me of a story that no less than current DND Secretary Voltz Gazmin likes to tell, that of the 1986 historic meeting between the late President Cory Aquino and the legenderary warrior -- or an incident just before the meeting, when she broke protocol and flew to Sulu to sue for peace with the MNLF. Voltz Gazmin, who was then CG, Presidential Security Group, tells the story often enough to highlight the courageous streak in the late president but which also gave us an insight into Misuari's innate Tausug character.

Voltz Gazmin recounted that the event was due to take place right in MNLF lair and as commanding general of the presidential security command, he was naturally apprehensive for the security of the chief executive. The life of the president was in his hands. He remarked that the president felt almost no fear and trusted that she would be able to achieve what she had set out to do. But he did not trust the MNLF, Misuari or not Misuari, to get anywhere near the president especially in Sulu where he would be severely outnumbered if things went wrong. But one thing he did say was that from the onset of the meeting between Cory and Misuari, the Tausug rebel exuded a very courteous demeanour towards the president, almost humble, perhaps, honoured and impressed that the president, a woman to boot, would have the courage to show up in "enemy country."

After a brief courteous exchanges, and just as the serious part of the discussions was about to begin, Mrs Aquino did the most unexpected thing -- which had not been planned at all; she ordered everyone out of the conference room except for a note taker. She decided that she was going to speak to Nur Misuari one-on-one. Voltz was naturally caught off guard. He was adamant that he did not want to leave the president alone with the rebel Tausug Misuari and insisted to be present with the president. But the president refused Gazmin's remonstrances. She was determined that they should be left alone to discuss the proecess of peace. She tried to reassure the PSG chief that everything would be alright and ordered him to leave.

With his heart trepidating, he left and waited outside the conference room. After nearly an hour, the president called for staff and the commander of the PSG. Alongside a meek-looking Nur Misuari, the president announced that they had come to an agreement to go forward to settle matters towards peace. According to Gazmin, he was left speechless. He saw Nur Misuari almost appearing like a lamb, acting with great deference to the president, in other words, respectful.

Cory Aquino left an indelible image of courage and fortitude in General Voltz Gazmin. But unknown to him, he left me personally with the appreciation that Nur Misuari, despite the rhetorics, is a reasonable man, a fierce but also gentle Tausug warrior. And that was what the MNLF commander was like when I finally met him for the first time back in the 90s. 

At the end of the day, negotiating for the much abused 'just and lasting peace' with the 'Moros' may just be possible through Nur Misuari. All it would take is to give him the respect he and his people deserves. 

By Anne de Bretagne
For The Philippine Sabah Claim Forum
24 October 2012

DECLASSIFIED U.S. STATE DEPT NOTES PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO WHY PH HAD TO GO IT ALONE ON SABAH CLAIM BACK IN THE 60s


DECLASSIFIED U.S. STATE DEPT NOTES PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO WHY PH HAD TO GO IT ALONE ON SABAH CLAIM BACK IN THE 60s 

From the Archives Re: Sabah

Doc List No. Prev Next

FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, 1964–1968
VOLUME XXVI, INDONESIA; MALAYSIA-SINGAPORE; PHILIPPINES, DOCUMENT 367

367. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Bundy) to Secretary of State Rusk 1

Washington, May 20, 1968.

SUBJECT
The Sabah Dispute and ASEAN
Discussion:
As you will recall, at the luncheon May 9, Foreign Minister Thanat raised the question of the Philippine-Malaysian dispute over Sabah and his concern that the dispute may disrupt the ASEAN ministerial meeting in August. Thanat plans to reason with both parties before the bilateral talks on Sabah open in Bangkok June 17. He would like us to persuade President Marcos to cool off the quarrel. We did not at the time so inform Thanat, but we have told the Filipinos informally, when they mentioned the issue, that we thought they should quiet the matter. (See Manila 8618 and State 136076 attached at Tab B.)2

After giving the matter further thought, and discussing it with the Country Directors in EA, I believe that we should continue to avoid active intervention in the Sabah dispute, and to avoid initiating discussions on this issue with any of the interested governments. In arriving at this conclusion, I considered the following points:

(1) Seriousness of Present Impasse—We expect the Bangkok talks on Sabah to fail, with mutual recriminations. Malaysia intends to reject the Philippine claim outright and to refuse a second round of talks, even if (according to one senior Malaysian official) the Philippines react by breaking diplomatic relations again. The Malaysians also plan to stage a military demonstration in Sabah while the bilateral talks are going on. On the Philippine side, President Marcos is reported to have reversed the moderate line urged by Foreign Secretary Ramos, and the Department of Foreign Affairs is now taking a “second hard look” at the relative priorities of regional cooperation and the Sabah claim.

(2) Sabah as a Southeast Asian Problem—We have told both the Filipinos and the Malaysians that we consider Sabah primarily a problem which they will have to work out for themselves. Other members of ASEAN, working separately or jointly, may be able to help them work out a face-saving compromise, or to persuade them at least to try to contain the dispute in order to minimize the damage to regional cooperation. I believe that advice or pressure from outside powers, however well-intended, would only weaken the sense of responsibility of ASEAN members for handling their own affairs, and that at this point, we can best encourage the development of ASEAN by standing aside and letting the member states decide for themselves how to deal with the potential threat posed by the Sabah dispute.

(3) U.S.-Philippine Relations and Philippines in Southeast Asia—I believe that it would be unwise especially for the U.S. to attempt to guide or influence the Philippines on this issue. Such a move would encourage the Filipinos' tendency to draw us into their affairs and then to consider us responsible for the situation. It would also reinforce the view held by other Southeast Asian nations that the Philippine Government cannot be dealt with as a responsible Government, but must be approached through Uncle Sam, who will keep them in line. If the Philippines is to play a responsible role in Southeast Asian affairs, Fililpino leaders must learn to conduct their affairs without guidance from us, and to bear the consequences of their mistakes.

The attached telegram (Tab A)3 would instruct Bangkok to follow up the luncheon conversation of May 9 with Thanat with a fuller discussion of the Sabah issue, and to outline an appropriate portion of the reasoning I have given above. Other addressees would be authorized to draw on the message in discussions with interested officials, but not to raise the Sabah question independently.

Recommendation:

That you sign the attached telegram to Bangkok concerning the Sabah dispute.

1 Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 18 MALAYSIA. Secret. Drafted by Ruth A. McLendon (EA/PHL) and cleared by EA, EA/PHL and in draft with EA/IND, EA/MS, EA/TB, and EA/RA.

2 Both attached but neither printed.

3 The draft telegram is attached, but is not printed. According to a handwritten note, Rusk approved its transmission and it was sent on May 21 at 12:30 p.m.

(NB: Credit to Yolanda Ortega Stern for the Philippine Sabah Claim Forum for the research.)

------------------------------------------------------

My thoughts off the cuff:

I have come across some similar documents -- declassified State Dept documents but not as clear as this. I suppose these notes were written during the SEATO meeting in Bangok (Lyndon Johnson was there)

WE WERE "SOLD"! What makes me think that the Sabah claim was "sold"? Because of this portion in the State Dept report: "(3) U.S.-Philippine Relations and Philippines in Southeast Asia—I believe that it would be unwise especially for the U.S. to attempt to guide or influence the Philippines on this issue. Such a move would encourage the Filipinos' tendency to draw us into their affairs and then to consider us responsible for the situation. It would also reinforce the view held by other Southeast Asian nations that the Philippine Government cannot be dealt with as a responsible Government, but must be approached through Uncle Sam, who will keep them in line. If the Philippines is to play a responsible role in Southeast Asian affairs, Fililpino leaders must learn to conduct their affairs without guidance from us, and to bear the consequences of their mistakes."

"Fililpino leaders must learn to conduct their affairs without guidance from us" but at the same time, the US always expected us to toe the line when it came to their desiderata. Extraordinary! They really wanted us on leash -- to bark when they said so and to heel at command and at the same time, we were expected to 'act independently.' Simply simply extraordinary! 

This how-to-handle-the-Philippines policy'must have been the same stand since 1963 when the Philippines filed a protest with the UN about the planned Malaysia Federation incorporating Sabah and Sarawak. We did not received any backing for our protest with the UN from our American allies. There's been no evidence that they did. 

My question has now been half answered, i.e., "Why did not the Americans want to help us pursue the Sabah claim?" My most generous thought is that they couldn't be bothered -- but that's only part of the answer... There is a tactical or perhaps, more serious strategical reason and that's what I would like to find out. I say this because Britain helped their former colony Malaya Federation (which is now Malaysia Federation following the 1963 annexation of Sabah and Sarawak) -- America could have done the same for us. Really they could have. 

At the same time, the State Dept or the CIA must have been aware of the Marcos preparations for Oplan Merdeka, the first physical attempt by the Philippines to re-take North Borneo or Sabah, a plan that he had begun to put up in earnest in 1967 or a year before this note was released...

They [the Americans] could not have ignored that... Were they just simply turning a blind eye but at the same time knew that they would step in and stop Marcos one way or the other if he went ahead and carried with his plans to "invade" Sabah?

A relative of mine who had been a legal adviser to one of the presidents and who later on became defence undersecretary for another Philippine president had informed me that in early 1968, the US had agreed to transfer vessels to the Philippines which the US knew  -- no way they wouldn't have known because they were already aware of Oplan Merdeka somehow -- would be used to ferry troops across Sabah... At the last minute when Jabidah Massacre was exposed, the vessels were turned back and sailed back to Vietnam.

These are not conjenctures. They were events that happened prior to the failed Philippine re-taking of Sabah or the denunciation of the covert operation made famous by media as the Jabidah Massacre. But the big question remains: Why did America not support our Sabah claim bid?  

By Anne de Bretagne
For the Philippine Sabah Claim Forum
and For the Defenders of the Philippine Sabah and Spratly Claims
26 Sept 2012

In picture: US Secretary of State Dean Rusk, the man who sealed the fate of the Philippine Sabah claim.

Wednesday 21 November 2012

Remembering a hero of OPLAN MERDEKA, CAPT SOLFERINO TITONG, PA

In the early 1960s, the Philippine government was already concerned that the pan Islamic movement financed by Libya's leader, Muammar Gaddafi would reach Southern Philippines. The deputy chief of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Gen. Rafael Ileto, a West Pointer and the founder of the Scout Rangers. 

Returning from a conference in Israel, with sophisticated communications equipment he recruited a Scout Ranger officer, Captain Solferino Titong, who was an expert in communications, with the mission to obtain information on events in North Borneo. He was to ingratiate himself with the new Malaysian authorities and get in a position of trust. He could not have gotten any closer, he managed to get the trust of the then Chief Minister, Tun Mustapha bin Datu Harun, a Suluk/Bajau (Tausug) and a relative of the Sultan of Sulu.

A year later, Ileto left the NICA for a new appointment as commander of a PC zone. But Titong stayed on in Sabah. ln 1967, Maj. Eduardo Martelino learned of Titong and tapped him to lead the team of infiltrators, this time for Oplan Merdeka.


Malaysia seemed an easy and vulnerable target at that time. The Federation was new and still fragile, having come into being only in 1963. It had barely taken off when Singapore, a member of the Federation of Malaya, decided to break away in 1965. Malaysia was engaged in a border dispute with its giant neighbor, Indonesia. 


Manila wanted to pursue its claim to Sabah at the World Court in the Hague and any discontent in the territory might have encouraged the Philippines to abandon diplomatic channels for more direct methods. True enough, Marcos cast his eyes on a country that was still on its way to political cohesion.

Capt Titong was extracted out of Sabah in the aftermath of the exposé of the operation.


Monday 19 November 2012

NAJIB's October visit to Manila to witness signing of PH-MILF Framework Agreement: Sealing the non-return of Sabah to the Philippines

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

LATEST NEWS: MAYOR Husin u. Amin of Jolo, Sulu, receives Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah) Brevet and Star

LATEST RECIPIENTS OF SULTANATE BREVET AND STAR IN JOLO, SULU NOVEMBER 2012, PRESENTED ON BEHALF OF HM SULTAN MUEDZUL LAIL T KIRAM, 35th Reigning Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah)

MAYOR HUSIN U. AMIN OF JOLO, SULU RECEIVES SULTANATE OF SULU AND NORTH BORNEO (Sabah) BREVET AND STAR 


IN PICTURE above, HON. Atty Husin u. Amin, Mayor of Jolo, Sulu, named Distinguished Companion of the Royal Hashemite Order of the Pearl, (Royal House Of Sulu Kiram Dynasty) Receiving his Brevet and Stars from Engr. Darwin Sanaani, Member of the RUMA BITCHARA (Royal Sultanate Council.) The event took place in the Office of the Mayor of the Municipality of Jolo, Sulu. The Brevet was presented to the mayor of Jolo, Hon. Amin, on behalf of HM Sultan Muedzul Lail T. Kiram, 35th Reigning Sultan, Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah) early in November 2012.

IN PICTURE left: Hon. Vice-Mayor Hji Edsir Q. Tan, Vice-Mayor of Jolo Sulu, Distinguished Companion of the Hashemite Royal Order of the Pearl, (Royal House of Sulu Kiram Dynasty) shown receiving his Brevet and Star from HRH Datu Yldon Tan Kiram, Member Ruma Bitchara. The Brevet was presented to Jolo Vice-Mayor Hji Edsir Q. Tan on behalf of HM Sultan Muedzul Kiram, 35th Reigning Sultan, Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah) early this month of November.

CORONATION OF HM Moh. Mahakuttah A. Kiram, Jolo, Sulu, 1974 as 34th Sultan, Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah)

FROM THE SULTANATE OF SULU AND NORTH BORNEO (Sabah) MEMORABILIA

CORONATION OF HM Moh. Mahakuttah A. Kiram, Jolo, Sulu, 1974 as 34th Sultan, Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah)

The little boy seen in the foreground approaching Sultan Mahakuttah is His Majesty's son, current reigning Sultan Muedzul L-ail T. Kiram, who was then aged 8 and was Raja Muda (Crowned Prince).

Shown far left is Ambassador Abraham Rasul, husband of former Senator Saturnina Razul. Ambassador Rasul also held the position of Wazir (Prime Minister) of the Sultanate. Also shown in the photo is Ustadz Yahya Radjae, a Qadi (Islamic judge) of the Sultanate. Ambose Rasul, then vice-president of PNB in the Middle East is seen walking towards just HM Sultan Mahakuttah (father current reigning Sultan Muedzul).

Wednesday 14 November 2012

Datu Fuad Abdulla Kiram conferring European-sounding nobility titles: Violation of Sultanate of Sulu, Tausug traditions

Sultan Muedzul Lail T Kiram 35th Reigning Sultan, Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah), shown left, with Jack Delisa of Australia (center) and the Sultan's uncle, Datu Fuad Abdulla Kiram (right) whom Sultan Muedzul appointed Governor-
Sultan of North Borneo (Sabah) in 2004. 


In 2006, Sultan Muedzul withdrew Datu Fuad's appointment when the latter violated the sacred traditions of the Sultanate of Sulu. Datu Fuad has been excommunicated since. We have learned that Datu Fuad Kiram has been trying to pass himself off as sultan of Sulu and has been conferring European sounding nobility titles on Facebook on just about anybody. 


ATTENTION: Those titles are without value and the titles of "duke, duchess, marquis, count, countess, baron, etc etc." do not exist in the Tausug, let alone in the Sultanate of Sulu traditions. Datu Fuad Kiram is accused today of fraud.

Symbol of Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah) authority: "Kalis Pilak"

HM Sultan Muedzul Lail T Kiram, 35th Reigning Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah) shown with the Silver Kris, symbol of sultan's authority.

THE SYMBOL OF SULTANATE AUTHORITY: "Kalis Pilak" or The Silver Kris, the traditional kris handed down from one reigning sultan to the next from the time of Sultan Badarruddin, now in the possession of Sultan Muedzul-lail T Kiram in his capacity as 35th Reigning Sultan, Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah). 


Monday 12 November 2012

Sultan Muedzul Kiram of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah) pledges to uphold oath to obtain justice for the Tausugs, Filipinos over Sabah sovereignty rights

In photo, HM Sultan Muedzul Lail T Kiram (center) with the Royal Council during official proclamation of His Majesty as 35th Reigning Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo/Sabah.

FOR EASIER READING, please find below the transcription of the STATEMENT FROM HM Sultan Muedzul Lail T Kiram 35th Reigning Sultan, Sultanate of Sulu & North Borneo issued on 11th November 2012 pledging to defend and uphold his oath as defender of sovereignty rights over Sabah. 




°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
STATEMENT FROM HM SULTAN MUEDZUL LAIL T. KIRAM, 35th Reigning Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah)

11 November 2012

TO MY FELLOW FILIPINOS, MY FELLOW TAUSUGS, AND ALL COMPATRIOTS

I am a simple man who, by birth, inherited the moral and legal responsibility left by my forebears to lead the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah).

My grandfather, Sultan Esmail Kiram I, transferred sovereignty rights over Sabah to the Republic of the Philippines on September 11, 1962. Upon his death in 1974, his eldest son, my father, Sultan Moh. Mahakuttah A. Kiram, assumed the title of Sultan in the State of Sulu and all its districts and dependencies. Upon my father's death in 1986, as his eldest son, I, the crowned Rajamuda (crowned prince) and direct descendant of Sultan Jamalul Kiram I, founder of the Sultanate of Sulu, assumed the mantle of leadership for the Sultanate of Sulu & North Borneo.

On September 16, 2012, the Royal Council (Ruma Bichara) of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo, officially proclaimed me the 35th Sultan of Sulu and all its districts and dependencies.

My fellow Filipinos, my fellow Tausugs, my compatriots wherever you may be, I solemnly vow to defend and uphold my oath as defender of our sovereignty rights over Sabah. With your help, I will do my very best to obtain justice so that Sabah may be returned to its rightful owners, the Tausugs, the people of Sulu and the people of the Philippines.

With your prayers and support, I, Sultan Muedzul-Lail T. Kiram, 35th Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah), declare before you that I am prepared to retake and to uphold sovereignty rights of the Republic of the Philippines over North Borneo (Sabah).

So help me God.

HM SULTAN MUEDZUL LAIL T. KIRAM
Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah)
Royal House of Sulu

Saturday 27 October 2012

FOUR MILF COMMANDERS DEFECT TO MNLF AFTER FEELING BETRAYED BY MILF CHIEF MURAD OVER MALAYSIA-ENGINEERED FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT

THE FOUR MILF COMMANDERS WHO APPARENTLY DEFECTED TO MNLF: Samsudin, former chairman of the MILF Council of Ulamas; Salamat, brother of deceased MILF founder Hashim Salamat who allegedly commands 8,000 MILF troops; Jianalan, Murad’s former security chief who commands about 6,500 fighters; Saidale, a new commander of 1,500 armed men.

Gapul Hadjirul, political director of the Moro National Liberation Front central committee, said to Manila Standard Today, “He [Murad] betrayed his supporters when he conspired with the Malaysians in entering into a Framework Agreement that is a deception by the government and a conspiracy with the Americans to attain their secret objective in Mindanao.”

Despite the "look good, feel good" rhetorics, Malaysia has ulterior motives in engineering this deal; part of which is to prevent the Philippines from ever reviving the Sabah claim -- and they have achieved this by funding and supporting secessionist groups in Mindanao; another is to ensure of their potential control of resources-rich Mindanao which the separatists may just hand to them to form part of a larger Malaysia federation. 

DO NOT TRUST MALAYSIA!

Link to MST story: MILF wracked by defections

In photo: Shown left MILF chief Murad with his benefactor Malaysia PM Najib Razak
Original photo caption: Najib shares shares a moment with Moro Islamic Liberation Front chairman Al Haj Murad during the signing of a peace deal at the Malacanang palace in Manila October 15, 2012. — Reuters pic
Source: Malaysia Insider Najib says Malaysia must help sustain Bangsamoro [MILF] deal

Wednesday 24 October 2012

Sultan Muedzul Kiram: A leader the people will follow into battle if it need be

By Teo Calasanz
For the Philippine Sabah Claim Forum
23 October 2012

Let me be clear that the opinion I will present is entirely my own and does not represent anyone in the group.
We all have been discussing this Sabah claim for quite some time now. Some for about a year, some of us for many years, and even some, for almost a lifetime. However, the events of the past few days have threatened to make all these discussions moot and academic. Not only is there a possibility of losing Sabah completely but there is that real possibility of the disintegration of the country. I will not bother to discuss the so called Framework Agreement as this has already been dissected to death. We have also been discussing who the rightful Sultan of Sulu should be considering that the land that is the subject of discussion is the property of the Sultanate and its heirs. This is separate from the discussion of the sovereignty over the land. However, all of these are interrelated and cannot be separated from each other without affecting the other subject.

After objectively analyzing the different aspects of the different claimants, I have concluded that the best claims are among three individuals representing two lines of succession. Of these, the best claim is that of Jamalul. However, he suffers from an apparent disinterest by virtue of his continued residency in Manila. The next would be his Raja Muda Esmail who is acting Sultan for now. He tilts in favor of Malaysia owing to their stay there when Pres Marcos declared martial law. The last would be Muedzul, the son of Mahakuttah the last sultan.


Be that as it may, there are times when circumstances and the needs of the hour force us to alter our priorities. We are at a critical moment in our history and as irrelevant as it may seem to many in the rest of the country, the importance of having the right sultan in Sulu cannot be cannot be overemphasized. It can determine the fate of the Visayas and Mindanao as well.

To put it bluntly, the Philippines’ claim over Sabah hinges on the assignment of the Sultanate’s claim of sovereignty over the territory. If the sultan revokes that assignment and sides with Malaysia, it tremendously weakens any claim the Philippines has on Sabah. But worse would be if any state that would include Sulu, decides to join the Malaysian Federation, not only have we lost any claim on the most productive state in Malaysia but also the most productive areas of the Philippines as well.

The only way to forestall this possibility is to have a sultan who will ensure that Sulu and Tawitawi will remain Philippine territory.

He must likewise be a leader who can inspire his people and give them hope that they can have a better future ahead. For so long, our brothers in Sulu have had this perception that they are treated as second class citizens of this country. We have several occasions in history when kings have been replaced by others with better qualifications either through the will of the people or by force. In our own history, we have had two legally elected presidents deposed by others.

While there are many who all claim the title of Sultan, we have not seen anyone step into the shoes of a real leader. Someone who will inspire and lead his people to the greatness they once had. A leader who will restore their pride in their culture and in themselves. A leader the people will follow into battle if it need be.

At the moment, I can only see one man who fits this mold: Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram. 

May he live to lead his people to the greatness they deserve.


*Teo Calasanz was a junior naval officer serving aboard RPS (BRP) Cebu in 1968 in a stand off with a small joint British and Malaysia flotilla near Turtle Islands when news broke out that Operation Merdeka, the first physical attempt by the Philippines to recover Sabah, had been discovered.

In picture: Sultan Muedzul Kiram with HM's Chief of Staff, Royal Armed Forces, Sultanate of Sulu & North Borneo (Sabah

MNLF's Nur Misuari, like many of us, appreciates courtesy and respect even from his enemies


At the end of the day, Nur Misuari can be a 'softie.' NO! NO! That's not meant to malign the MNLF founder and legendary Tausug warrior but merely to say that he is human and appreciates, like many of us, respect and a minimum of courtesy.

That was actually my reaction after reading a news report in today's Freeman that said, "The stance of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari against the framework agreement may soon soften as a result of the Aquino administration's "talks" with the leader of the former rebel group."

It reminded me of a story that no less than current DND Secretary Voltz Gazmin likes to tell of the 1986 historic meeting between the late President Cory Aquino and the legenderary warrior -- or an incident just before the meeting, when she broke protocol and flew to Sulu to sue for peace with the MNLF. Voltz Gazmin, who was then CG, Presidential Security Group, tells the story often enough to highlight the courageous streak in the late president but which also gave us an insight into Misuari's innate Tausug character. 

Voltz Gazmin recounted that the event was due to take place right in MNLF lair and as commanding general of the presidential security command, he was naturally apprehensive for the security of the chief executive. The life of the president was in his hands. He remarked that the president felt almost no fear and trusted that she would be able to achieve what she had set out to do. But he did not trust the MNLF, Misuari or not Misuari, to get anywhere near the president especially in Sulu where he would be severely outnumbered if things went wrong. But one thing he did say was that from the onset of the meeting between Cory and Misuari, the Tausug rebel exuded a very courteous demeanour towards the president, almost humble, perhaps, honoured and impressed that the president, a woman to boot, would have the courage to show up in "enemy country." 

After a brief but courteous exchange, and just as the serious part of the discussions was about to begin, Mrs Aquino did the most unexpected thing -- which had not been planned at all; she ordered everyone out of the conference room except for a note taker. She decided that she was going to speak to Nur Misuari one-on-one. Voltz was naturally caught off guard. He was adamant that he did not want to leave the president alone with the rebel Tausug Misuari and insisted to be present with the president. But the president refused Gazmin's remonstrances. She was determined that they should be left alone to discuss the process of peace. She tried to reassure the PSG chief that everything would be alright and ordered him to leave.

With his heart trepidating, he left and waited outside the conference room. After nearly an hour, the president called for staff and the commander of the PSG. Alongside a meek-looking Nur Misuari, the president announced that they had come to an agreement to go forward to settle matters towards peace. According to Gazmin, he was left speechless. He saw Nur Misuari almost appearing like a lamb, acting with great deference to the president, in other words, respectful. 

Cory Aquino left an indelible image of courage and fortitude in General Voltz Gazmin. But unknown to him, he left me personally with the appreciation that Nur Misuari, despite the rhetorics, is a reasonable man, a fierce but also gentle Tausug warrior. And that was what the MNLF commander was like when I finally met him for the first time back in the 90s. 


By Anne de Bretagne
For The Philippine Sabah Claim Forum
24 October 2012



PHOTO from Presidential Museum and Library.

Friday 19 October 2012

OFFICIAL PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT CIRCULAR CONCERNING SABAH

MALACANANG CIRCULAR 2008 CONCERNING SABAH: Guidelines on matters pertaining to North Borneo (Sabah). Unless otherwise revoked, we assume the guidelines are still in place.


The following official guideline -- Section 1 -- alone is already all-encompassing, i.e., that all official agencies of the Republic are prohibited from mentionning any reference to Sabah being a part of Malaysia.

Section 1: No Department, agency or instrumentality of the Philippine Government hall make any act or statement expressing or implying, directly or indirectly, any recognition of a foreign state's sovereignty over North Borneo (Sabah) or non-recognition of Philippine title or historial and legal rights to the same.


IT'S OFFICIAL: HM Sultan Muedzul-Lail T Kiram of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah) is prepared to fight for Sabah


IT'S OFFICIAL: HM Sultan Muedzul Lail T Kiram, 35th Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah) is prepared to fight for Sabah. This photo has just been released for publication to declare His Majesty's intention.

We support Sultan Muedzul Kiram's intention. Long live HM Sultan Muedzul Lail T Kiram, 35th sultan of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah)!



Sultan Muedzul Kiram is the eldest grandson of Sultan Esmail Kiram I, the sultan who officially transferred sovereignty rights over Sabah to the Republic of the Philippines in 1962. His father (now deceased) was the sultan before him.

The coronation of Sultan Muedzul Kiram took place in September 2012 on the sacred grounds of the Astanah Darul Jambangan in Maimbung, Sulu, Philippines, seat of the sultanate throne. The last Sultan who was crowned in Maimbung, Sulu was HM Almarhum Sultan Esmail E Kiram (grandfather of current reigning Sultan Muedzul Kiram), the sultan of Sulu who transferred sovereignty rights over Sabah to the Republic of the Philippines in 1962.

Today, HM Sultan Muedzul Kiram, is the only Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo heir to have come forward and vowed to act IN THIS CRITICAL PERIOD of national confusion related to Malaysia's official admittance in Mindanao (and the burying of our claim through inaction). HM Sultan Muedzul Kiram has made it clear that he will fight for the return of Sabah.  

Shown in picture taken on July 05 2012 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (former North Borneo): His Majesty Sultan Muedzul-lail T Kiram supported by the Sabahan Leader Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, considered by West Malaysia as a Sabah dissident and brother of current Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah, in a one on one meeting at his hotel suite, Le Merridien, Kampong Ayir, KK, Sabah. 
  
In photo with the 35th Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo is MNLF General HJI GAJER SADDARAMIL, HM Sultan Muedzul lail T Kiram's Chief of Staff, Royal Armed Forces, Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo.


To join the discussion on the Sabah claim: Philippine Sabah Claim Forum

Tuesday 16 October 2012

On the Malaysia-engineered Philippines-MILF peace deal


LET US BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT ONE THING: We are not against peace talks or peace deals with any of the rebel groups or Islamic organisation in Mindanao. 

We do not even oppose handing over portions of Mindanao to our fellow countrymen or Muslim brothers in Mindanao, be they MNLF, MILF, BIFF, BIFM, MIM, or to whoever among OUR people BUT -- and this is a big but -- what we feel strongly about is doing it to serve Malaysia interests to the detriment of our own national peace, law and order in Mindanao, economic development in the South and above all, to the detriment of our national honour.

The Filipino people know full well that Malaysia began fermenting trouble in Mindanao by proxy immediately after the Philippines' Operation Merdeka, the failed physical attempt to recover Sabah in 1968. Malaysia efforts to sabotage stability in Mindanao have continued to this day, under different disguises perhaps but are aimed at distabilising Muslim Mindanao just the same. Generations of Mindanaoans know that Malaysia formed, trained, nurtured, funded secessionist groups right in Sabah. Malaysia objective: to keep the Philippines busy warring so that the country and its succeeding administrations could not turn around to re-claim Sabah. 

Today, despite the change in Malaysia tactics, i.e., playing the 'goodies', engineering a peace deal, photo ops with GPH's Marvic Leonen and Teresita Deles, etc., their objective has not changed. On the pretext of being the loving 'big brother' peacenickers, Malaysia's bottom aim is to force us to accept the Sabah claim death warrant that they have been trying to serve us these last 4 decades and to bury our sovereignty claim to Sabah with finality. And we are absolutely certain that our Government today is aware that this is Malaysia's true motive. President Aquino cannot claim ignorance of Malaysia motives -- he has possession of intel reports on his desk on everything that has happened and continues to happen in Mindanao. 

Question today: Should President Aquino's Government now officially accept to kill our Sabah claim in the name of true peace?

If national Government's true objective is peace overall, we recommend that President Aquino address the issue once and for all. You don't have to have a PhD in political science or in history to understand that the Sabah sovereignty issue with Malaysia will continue to be the key factor in the determination of our brothers in Mindanao to secede from the Republic to join Sabah, potentially under Malaysia umbrella.

We therefore insist that if President Aquino is serious about this 'peace deal' with the MILF (too bad he's done it without the MNLF and the others) -- and not merely to gain political "pogi" points, he must not shirk from the task of doing what is genuinely good for the people of Mindanao: have the courage to either tell the Malaysians "to bugger off" or to tell the nation that we are formally renouncing our sovereignty claim to Sabah. 

By Anne de Bretagne
For the Philippine Sabah Claim Forum
16 October 2012

A MUST READ: Undertanding our Failures 
By Teo Calasanz
Unsung hero, Operation Merdeka
For the Philippine Sabah Claim Forum
15 October 2012

Wednesday 5 September 2012

HRH Rajamuda Muedzul-lail T Kiram of the Sultanate of Sulu, legitimate claimant to the throne

Shown in photo: His Royal Highness Rajamuda Muedzul-lail T Kiram and some of his Royal Council after the meeting on 11 June 2012 at Astanah Negara Sulu. In the photo are, ARMM DTI SEC. Hji Hamid Awad (Ruma Bitchara) Dept of Labor Director Hji Shiek Jaafar Asgali (Ruma Bitchara) Hon. Vice Mayor Hji Omar Sali (Ruma Bitchara) Helping Foundation Director Engr Darwin Sanaani (Ruma Bitchara) and members of the Panglima." (Credit: Habiba Kiram/Facebook)
Shown in photo: HRH Rajamuda Muedzul-lail T Kiram and the Chief of Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) General Hji Gajer Saddaramil. (Credit: Habiba Kiram/Faebook)

HRH Rajamuda Muedzul-lail T Kiram is one of the three legitimate claimants to the throne of the Sulu Sultanate. The other two legitimate claimants are Sultan Esmail Kiram II and Sultan Jamalul Kiram III.

For information, please be warned that Datu Fuad Kiram (shown left), the uncle of the Rajamuda who has been excommmunicated by the houses of Sulu's three legitimate claimants to the throne for illegal misrepresentation, has been operating on Facebook as sultan Fuad Kiram along with a certain Omar Kiram (not a Kiram in reality* but is fraudulently presenting himself to be a prince marshal of Sulu and Sabah). The two have been bestowing illegal European sounding nobility titles to just about anyone on Facebook. 
Fuad Kiram cannot be considered a legitimate claimant to the sultanate of Sulu throne because he is not in direct line of succession but remains a royal datu. Furthermore, Datu Fuad Kiram has been excommunicated by the houses of Esmail Kiram II, Jamalul III and Muedzul-lail T Kiram for fraudulently usurping the throne and for abandoning his wife and daughter Habiba.
NB: "Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Founder and chairman and Tausug warrior Professor Nur Misuari has told the administrators of this blog in conversations late last year that he does not know where Mr Omar Kiram comes from and confirmed that Mr Omar Kiram who is pretending to be a prince of Sulu and Sabah is not a Tausug. 
Professor Misuari also informed us that he received Datu Fuad Kiram and Mr "Omar Kiram" sometime during the first part of the decade purely out of courtesy but the act does not imply in any way his recognition of Datu Fuad Kiram as sultan of Sulu. Furthermore, during our conversations with him, Professor Misuari refused to address Fuad Kiram with the title of sultan and insisted on referring to him as Royal Datu Fuad Kiram.

NNB: For more information on the recognized sultans of Sulu over the years, please consult the official website of the Provincial Government of Sulu, Republic of the Philippines:
http://www.sulu.gov.ph/Profile.asp?mode=sultanate