Zamboanga City stand-off, Malaysia-engineered GPH-MILF peace deal and the 50-year old unresolved Sabah issue

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Sabah: Mourning a lost opportunity; PH should have gone with 'guns blazing'

In less than two weeks, PH will be mourning the 50th anniversary of the loss of Sabah to Malaya Federation... 

We had a lot going for us back then. We had in our possession the ultimate deed of transfer of sovereignty from the proprietary right holders of Sabah, we had a great defence force with highly trained and battle tested professionals and we had leaders with first class brains arguing for the Republic's right to receive full ownership of the domain. Indeed, there were many elements in our favour then even if we lacked the backing of a major ally and even as the Malaya Federation was being backed by its British masters... 

Could we have taken possession of Sabah 'legally' and diplomatically, i.e., through the UN, even without US backing? I don't think so. President Macapagal in all likelihood, the diplomat hors pair that he was known for, would not have approved of "going it alone." At the time, we would not have been bold enough to tackle the British in the UN without official US backing, our major trading partner, our masters so to speak whose policies we breathed and lived. True, President Macapagal could be stubborn as when he tweaked the US when he decided to change the date of PH independence but he knew that he could only go so far...

Now, as if the 'absence' of backing by a major ally was not bad enough, we also had in our midst then, a charismatic member of the Senate, an internationally famous ex-diplomat known for having flexed verbal muscles with Khruschev, who was fighting tooth and nail against the Republic's claim on behalf of the Malayans (and by extension, on behalf of the British) at a time when our own leaders were trying to hard to convince the British that they were wrong not to return Sabah to its rightful owners. He was the Philippines''Brutus' in the overall scheme of things. (His descendant is doing the same thing today.) I am convinced that 'Brutus' vitriolic assault on the Republic's claim gave Britain and Malaya the great excuse to say that because PH did not know what it wanted, they would be deciding the fate of Sabah. 

In hindsight, diplomacy and beautifully crafted words proved futile. We should have gone with guns blazing and physically battled to get Sabah back. It would or could have forced the great nations to stop and listen to us instead of allowing ourselves to keel over without a fight. If we had to lose, we would have had, at the very least, the satisfaction of having fought a battle that was worth fighting.

Today, we mourn the lost opportunity. Malaya, on the other hand, is jubilant. They not only have managed to steal Sabah from us and became extra-ordinarily rich, thanks to Sabah's resources, they have also kept us divided, and at war among ourselves in the South. However one may want to look at it, the Malayans have humiliated us into abject surrender. I am sure that their coup de grace will not be long in coming as they prepare to dismantle the Republic... 

But all is not lost! As ever, for as long as there is life, one must not give up! We may have lost a battle but not the war...

~~ Anne de Bretagne
for the Philippine Sabah Claim Forum
and for the Defenders of the Philippine Sabah and Spratly Claims
31 August 2013

President Macapagal’s State of the Nation Address, on the Filing of the Claim of Sovereignty over North Borneo 

28 January 1963  

Source: Extract from President Macapagal’s State of the Nation Address, delivered before a Joint Session of the Philippines Congress. Philippines Republic, Congressional Record, 5th Congress, 2nd Session, 28 January 1963, p.42  

The most important action taken in the field of foreign relations in the past year was the official filing on June 22, 1962, with the United Kingdom of the Philippine claim of sovereignty, jurisdiction and proprietary ownership over North Borneo as successor-in-interest of the Sultan of Sulu. 

We are gratified at the goodwill shown by the United Kingdom in holding the talks in London in pursuance of our note on June 22, 1962, in which talk an opportunity has been opened for a friendly scrutiny of the Philippine claim, taken with the security problems of South-east Asia.  

2. Contrary to allegation in some political quarters, this was not a precipitate action. We have personally studied this claim over a period of years. While serving in the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1946, upon a study of this claim in connection with our successful negotiation for the reacquisition of the Turtle Islands, we advocated the filing of this claim.  

3. In 1948, while serving in the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC, we went over the claim with an American expert in Anglo-Saxon law in George Washington University who sustained the view that this is a valid claim. When we served in the Congress of the Philippines, we successfully authored and sponsored in 1950, a resolution for the filing of this claim. Upon becoming President of the Philippines, acting on the conviction that this was not only a valid claim but that its presentation was demanded by the national interest, it became our inescapable duty to act on the bipartisan resolution of the House of Representatives on April 24, 1962, that the claim be filed now or never.  

4. The situation is that the Philippines not only has valid and historic claim to North Borneo. In addition, the pursuit of the claim is itself vital to our national security. We could not merely view the placing of North Borneo under Malaya, without presentation and consideration of our legitimate claim to North Borneo. Our claim to North Borneo cannot be less than the claim of Malaya to the territory not only on the basis of superior juridical and historical rights but in the vital interest of our national security.  

5. Malaya has no valid claim or right to take over North Borneo. Furthermore, if through arbitrary arrangement, the Borneo territory is placed under Malaya, the latter cannot likely insure for long the security of North Borneo for the free world. A profound and farsighted contemplation of the present and potential security posture in the whole region will conclusively support the judgment that the restoration of North Borneo as part of the territory of the Philippines would be the durable measure that could best insure against territorial disequilibrium and restlessness in the area and could constitute the firm and stabilizing factor to maintain and safeguard the security of the region.  

6. The project to place North Borneo, together with Brunei and Sarawak, under Malaya has already provoked a revolt in Brunei. It can be expected that Indonesia will not settle down accepting the authority of Malaya over Sarawak, Brunei and North Borneo. Moreover, the proposed Federation of Malaysia is not in accordance with the principle of self-determination, which is the accepted way out of colonialism, but appears to be a continuation of colonialism based only on an expedient of false security.  

7. It was imperative that the Philippine claim be, as it was made because if North Borneo was not to be by itself independent but was to be placed under another state there is no valid reason why, the legal and historic basis of the Philippine claim, and considering that North Borneo is contiguous to Philippine territory and vital to our security, the new State to be given jurisdiction over North Borneo should not be the Philippines.  

8. It is vital to the security of the Philippines that North Borneo be not placed under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of another State, particularly a state on the Asian mainland like Malaya. In the event, God forbid, that Malaya succumbs to the potent communist threat on the Asian mainland, with North Borneo under Malaya, there would be created a situation in which a communist territory would be immediately at the southern frontier of the Philippines, which would pose a grave and intolerable threat to our country. Against such threat, we know that our people will fight to the death, for they will rather die fighting for freedom than live in slavery.  

PRINCIPLE OF SELF-DETERMINATION  

9. In laying claim to North Borneo in pursuance of the legal and historic rights and the security interest of the Philippines, we recognize the cardinal principle of self-determination of which the Philippines has been a steadfast adherent. In the prosecution of our valid claim, it is agreeable to us that at an appropriate time the people of North Borneo should be given an opportunity to determine whether they would wish to be independent or whether they would wish to be part of the Philippines or be placed under another state. Such referendum, however, should be authentic and bona fide by holding it under conditions, preferably supervised by the United Nations, that would insure effective freedom to the people of North Borneo to express their true and enlightened will.  

 Admin's NOTE: Thanks go to Filipina Maharlika for the President Diosdado Macapagal State of the Nation Speech document. Filipina Maharlika is one of the founding members of the Philippine Sabah Claim Forum.

• Link to extract from President D Macapagal's State of the Nation Address on the Republic's filing of sovereignty claim to Sabah (Philippine Sabah Claim Forum) 
• Photos: 
• President Macapagal with Indonesia's Soekarno and Malaya Federation's Tunku Abdul Rahman on the signing of the Manila Accord.
• President Macapagal with then Senate President Marcos. Both played pivotal roles in the Republic's sovereignty claim to Sabah. 

HOW TO HELP SULUK FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN UNJUSTLY DEPORTED FROM THEIR HOMELAND BY KUALA LUMPUR

A photo report posted by Philippine Sabah Claim Forum member PManalo; caption reads: "repost from REACT Phil. June 25, 2013 @ 8:05 pm 116 deportees arrived @ Bongao Port, karamihan sa kanila ay menor de edad pa kasama na rin isang 2 kalahating taong gulang na bata at dalawa sa menor de edad na deportees nagkakaroon na ng deperensya sa pagiisip dahil ikunulong daw sila ng 100 days sa tawau sabah malaysia." Also posted on Sabah Claim Society community page. 

Muslim families in Sulu are in dire need of your help for the Tausugs and the Suluks who have gone and continue to go through the most horrendous experience following the Tanduo siege in Sabah. 

While our government is showing sympathy to our kababayans who are convicted of a crime in a foreign country and is taking drastic action to help save their lives, our Muslim families in Sabah are still suffering from the atrocities of Malaysian troops and police authorities without overt sympathy from the tenants of Malacanang.  

Many had been incarcerated and starved before deportation; many have died or been killed and will never see the shores of Sulu; others have left Sabah on their own to escape death. There is a vast number of Suluk "deportees" from their own Sabah homeland who need help. The forced and unjust "deportation" in the most inhuman circumastances has not stopped. Those who have luckily reached the shores of Sulu are in need of food and medicine. The sick, the wounded, the hungry need help. 

Raayat Bangsa Suluk, a charity group by the Kiram family of Sulu, has set up a group on Facebook. The group has just put up a Paypal account through which someone - especially located overseas, who wishes to help can send donation online. If you wish to donate in kind or in person, you can also go to their physical office address. 

Here's their PayPal Account: kiramn@yahoo.com

To donate locally and in person, here's a "how to do it" list from Fatima Shehan Kiram Idjirani of the Raayat Bangsa Suluk:

"If someone asks for our Org's address so they can send donations in kind, please refer them to 1) Address: Suite 2306 Cityland 10 Tower 2, H.V. Dela Costa Street corner Street Makati City 1226; and 2) please go to the Files Tab of this group page and forward to them the Donation Form. The form is much needed for auditing purposes. Thank you :)"

Anyone interested may also download a form from the group by clicking on the following Facebook link: Raayat Bangsa Suluk

Another organisation through which help to our Suluks families may be coursed is One World Institute, Inc., a non-profit organisation, headed by one of our compatriots, Yolanda Ortega Stern, who has been doing this silently for years now. This organization has provided livelihood programs for our people. If you have a Facebook account, please visit their Facebook page and "LIKE" it to know more. You can get more information from the page how to help. Link: One World Institute

Please visit their Facebook link to view page and "LIKE" it. There's some information about the organization and how it provides a livelihood program for the people there. Our compatriot, Yolanda Ortega Stern heads this organization and has been doing charitable projects silently without fanfare. But the organisation deserves to be noticed and those who can help may do so. 

Here's something we have copied and pasted from One World Institute:

One World Institute will be initiating a new pilot project in Sulu in Coconut Processing to help our OWI community earn money for their daily bread. They will grate and press the coconuts to sell the "sapal" and the cold squeezed virgin coconut oil. Filipino innovative technology for low cost production in an area that suffers lack of electricity, will be utilized. 

We will also be helping TechnoteBambooPhil promote their Bamboo project by encouraging growing bamboo wherever we can. They now have a nursery in Kidapawan, Cotabato. Rimmon Paren has trained and is ready. The OWI community will initially join in providing the bamboo to them. Seedlings are now for sale. 

To our partners, you can be an investor/partner or donate Php 55 K for a coconut processing machine. Or you can donate bamboo seedlings purchased in Kidapawan. 

OWI will provide the logistics and market for all the products, using our Seaweed Farm Associations as the model. The community owns the project, OWI manages, markets, and they get all the income. 

OWI does not charge administrative fees from any donations. What you give is what they get. 

Our Seaweed Farms continue to thrive. Hundreds of families are subsisting today on the income they derive from selling their dried seaweeds. More could be done for them if we had a processing plant for secondary processing. We will be experimenting with using the same machine to chop seaweed as well. 

OWI, AAI, and IPI will join again in the sharing of hypertensive medicines and books to hard hit areas where libraries perished during Pablo. Dengue is on the rise again. 

So join our Coconut Army, the Seaweed Navy and the Bamboo Brigade. Plant bamboo. 

Thank you to all our volunteers and partners as we change gears from wheelchair distribution to concentrate our scarce resources on old and new projects that help our communities put food on the table. We have listened to the OWI communities. "We cannot eat books" is a desperate commentary on the hard times. 

Join us one and all, in the projects that fill the heart. The difference is YOU. 

For more, click here.

NOTE BENE: We, the Admins of the Philippine Sabah Claim Forum, its Defenders community page and its sister sites on FB and on the worldwide web, would like to emphasize, that we are not in any manner connected to the above organisations and are in no way responsible for these organizations. We have posted the above sites on the Philippine Sabah Claim Forum and its sister sites on Facebook and in the Group's blogs in response to enquiries by some members on how they could help. The posts on how to help Suluks in dire need following their forced and unjustified deportation from Sabah are a PUBLIC SERVICE. Thank you.

~~ Administrators

• Philippine Sabah Claim Forum
• Defenders of the Philippine Sabah & Spratly Claims
• Sabah Claim Society

28 June 2013

Honouring the UN Treaty, 1963 Manila Accord, is the only way forward to solve the Sabah question

ON 31st JULY 2013 IS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MANILA ACCORD*

THE ONLY LEGAL SOLUTION TO THE SABAH QUESTION IS TO HONOUR THE MANILA ACCORD. How? By pressuring Kuala Lumpur to negotiate with the Philippines. However, there is no way in hell that it can happen if President Aquino has put it in his head not to face the question head on or even just to raise - with a gentle whisper - the Manila Accord with his great friend in Kuala Lumpur, the not-so-smart (but one who has outsmarted our benighted leader Noynoy at every turn), the one and only corrupt, the greedy Bumiputra Affirmative Action-BN leader, ta da da... Najib Razak, the son of the man who initiated the troubles in Mindanao and caused the Philippines to lose many of its sons and daughters in what was then called the Mindanao Secession Wars...

Most of the 20 million Malayans are not that smart, in fact, they are rather stupid, are terribly bone idle, but one wonders how on earth they manage to outwit and outsmart 100 million Filipinos, many of whom boast of a certain degree of sophistication be it in education or in general culture!

The other solution is for Sabah to withdraw from the UK-engineered Malaysia Federation. There seems to be a trend towards that today but will all of Sabah agree? Not sure - Sabahans are just like Filipinos, they are easily conned by nice words, by good bribes and fight each other most of the time. They are rather laid back (understatement) so will take a bit of push from somewhere.

The ultimate solution, one might say, is war. But according to our benighted leader, that's out of the question and we agree with him. We not only do not have the material capability to go to war with Kuala Lumpur, it is also almost a certainty that most of our people will be anti such move. We have seen how PH reacted to the 'excursion' headed by SJKIII's brother - many of our politicians and their supporters almost peed in their pants when the Lahad Datu stand off happened... So let's say, that war is not an option.

If only we didn't have the Kiram 'intramurals' (the bickering, the infighting, the 'faking' - usurping of sultan title, etc, etc.,) perhaps, things would be slightly different. The saying that "united we stand divided we fall' is, as always, true.

NB: *Section 12 of the Manila Accord - UN TREATY 8029, signed by three heads of states before the creation of the Malaysia Federation namely, Suharto of Indonesia, Rahman of Malaya and Macapagal of the Philippines, stipulates the following:

12. The Philippines made it clear that its position on the inclusion of North Borneo in the Federation of Malaysia is subject to the final outcome of the Philippine claim to North Borneo. The Ministers took note of the Philippine claim and the right of the Philippines to continue to pursue it in accordance with international law and the principle of the pacific settlement of disputes. They agreed that the inclusion of North Borneo in the Federation of Malaysia would not prejudice either the claim or any right thereunder. Moreover, in the context of their close association, the three countries agreed to exert their best endeavours to bring the claim to a just and expeditious solution by peaceful means, such as negotiation, conciliation, arbitration, or judicial settlement as well as other peaceful means of the parties' own choice, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and the Bandung Declaration.

Related blog post: Signing of the Manila Accord of 1963

Other links:

• Post colonial history: British North Borneo/Sabah and the 1963 Manila Accord
• UN Treaties

Is this really the Philippines' defence doctrine? "Protect Philippine territory if needed"

PH Ambassador Cusia during the send off of BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16):

“As you know, there are some tensions in the West Philippine Sea and this may put you in harm’s way but there is no doubt that you will perform your duty of protecting Philippine territory if needed.” 

Our view: "IF NEEDED"? THERE IS NO "IF" BECAUSE PROTECTION IS NEEDED! Protection of territory does not mean going to war!!! Furthermore, "protection" of our territory is a duty, a physical and moral obligation, and cannot and must not fall under what seems to be this Administration's do-lally doctrine of "protecting Philippine territory IF NEEDED".

Ambassador Cusia himself said that "there are some tensions in West PH Sea" so he should not have used the conditional tense or inserted a caveat! No wonder our navy is confused - all these civilians in authority seem to be incapable of pinpointing with accuracy the difference between protecting our territory and going to war!

Protecting our territory is not going to war, it is that: TO PROTECT just like you protect your home!

~~ By AdB
For the Defenders of the Philippine Sabah & Spratly Claims
14 June 2013

Link: Ambassador Cusia story

*Posted on Philippine Sabah Claim Forum
*Posted on Defenders of Philippine Sabah & Spratly Claims

By Admins
Defenders of Philippine Sabah & Spratly Claims
and of the Philippine Sabah Claim Forum

On the issue of national integrity and sovereignty, would you support President NoyNoy Aquino without reservation if....?

ON THE ISSUE OF NATIONAL INTEGRITY AND SOVEREIGNTY, a question to Philippine patriots and to the community of the Defenders of the Philippine Sabah & Spratly Claims: 

President NoyNoy Aquino will soon be delivering his State of the Nation Address... If President Noynoy Aquino decided to turn around from being a generally perceived weakling and moral coward in order to face the nation's foreign bullies, and as one member says, 'pounds his fist on the table', and announced that...

"NO nation will succeed in stealing Philippine territory! I am ordering the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard to deploy all available ships to patrol our EEZ, guard our territories, protect and defend them against would-be foreign intruders at all cost... Furthermore, let this be known that I will not tolerate foreign state-sanctioned human rights violations on my people in Sabah..."

Would you let 'bygones be bygones' and give your ALL OUT support to NoyNoy Aquino, i.e., without reservation?

Please answer with either Yes or No... Thank you.

NB: If your answer is "NO" or "NOT SURE", please explain why not? Thank you very much.

NNB: Please feel free to share this post.

By Admins, Defenders of the Philippine Sabah & Spratly Claims: 

06 June 2013

PH Election 2013: Senatorial candidates endorsed by the Philippine Sabah Claim Forum

PHILIPPINE ELECTION 2013: These are the senatorial candidates who spoke - in varying degrees of eloquence - about the Philippine Sabah claim following the Sabah stand off in February. From what we understand, these candidates, if they win, will raise the country's claim so all may know that the Republic has not given up on its people's claim. 

We need as many voices as we can gather for the country's Sabah claim. The fight will be tough because the current dispensation is very much against Philppine sovereignty rights over Sabah and will do everything and anything to stifle the voices for Sabah.

On the strength of their courage to speak for the country's sovereignty rights claim to Sabah and for speaking out for the Filipinos who were massacred by Kuala Lumpur troops, the Philippine Sabah Claim Forum group is endorsing the following candidates as compiled by PSCF co-founder and Admin MGA.

~~ Administrators
Philippine Sabah Claim Forum (Group)
Philippine Sabah and Spratly Claims (Community) 
06 May 2013

NB: We promise to hold each and every single one of them to their Sabah claim promise when they are finally elected senators of the Republic.

LINKS TO CANDIDATES PROFILES:

# 28 - Koko Pimentel -  http://www.ivoteph.com/platforms/aquilino-pimentel-iii-platforms-advocacy/

# 21 - Marwil Llasos -   http://www.ivoteph.com/platforms/marwil-llasos-platforms-advocacy/

#27 - Ricardo Penson - http://www.ivoteph.com/platforms/ricardo-penson-platforms-advocacy/

#31 - Eddie Villanueva -  http://www.ivoteph.com/platforms/eddie-villanueva-platforms-advocacy/

#4 - Greco Belgica -  http://www.ivoteph.com/platforms/greco-belgica-platforms-advocacy/

#16 - Edward Hagedorn -   http://www.ivoteph.com/platforms/edward-hagedorn-platforms-advocacy/

#1 - Samson Alcantara -   http://www.ivoteph.com/platforms/samson-alcantara-platforms-advocacy/

# 6 - Teddy Casino -  http://www.ivoteph.com/platforms/teodoro-casino-platforms-advocacy/

#15 - Richard Gordon -  http://www.ivoteph.com/platforms/dick-gordon-platforms-advocacy/

# 10 - Carlos de los Reyes -http://www.ivoteph.com/platforms/john-carlos-de-los-reyes-platforms-advocacy/

#25 - Ramon Montano -  http://www.ivoteph.com/platforms/ramon-montano-and-his-platforms/

 #7 - Allan Cayetano - /www.ivoteph.com/platforms/alan-peter-cayetano-platforms-advocacy/

"Grow some dignity!" Philippine Sabah Claim Forum member tells President Aquino

In his speech at the commencement exercises of the Philippine Military Academy Pudang Kalis class of 2013 in Baguio City, President Aquino attempted to defend himself (and to whine about his hair loss ) from growing criticisms for his inaction or wooly* position at best overMalaysia siege against Filipinos in Tanduo, Sabah stand-off.

Lawrence Igana of the Philippine Sabah Claim Forum gives Aquino a strong tap in his 'backside' which we hope will rouse the Philippine chief executive from his - borrowing from Manila Standard Today's Linda Jimeno - 'un-involved observer stance'.

Here's what Lawrence said: 'GROW SOME DIGNITY, MR PRESIDENT'

"Consider your position you say? What about the position of those who were actually in Sabah? Those who took action; may it be drastic and crude. Those who actually have the conscience to say "enough"? Have you considered their position Mr. President?

"We are all looking for a diplomatic solution which will give finality to this issue. What happened in Lahad Datu should not have happened if YOU as our President took a stand to at least assert which avenue we will take to have our stake noticed (which basing in all historical facts is valid).

"You are blaming the Kirams for their actions which led to the displacement of thousands of Filipino in Sabah. Well I guess the same can be said for your lack of action. The only difference is, our Muslim brothers who took part in the Lahad Datu siege actually have the balls. They'd much rather face death and fight for what is right, than to stand in the sideline while they see the rape of Sabah.

"Did you even have the guts to talk about this issue when the Sultan of Brunei visited the Philippines? Was it a part of your agenda sir? Or your only agenda is to lure the Sultan towards your sister?

"Procrastinating will not get this issue solved sir. I think by now you would have seen that it's obvious. Grow some dignity. Your father once said that the Filipinos are worth dying for. What say you?"

~~

*'wooly' is a typical English expression to mean vague, intangible, unclear, etc...

NB: "GROW SOME DIGNITY, MR PRESIDENT!" is also posted on Defenders of the Philippine Sabah and Spratly Claims 

Link to Aquino speech: Speech of President Aquino during the commencement exercises of the Philippine Military Academy Pudang Kalis class, March 17, 2013 [English] 

• Related posts: 
• Tausugs sold a second time around in President Aquino statement on Sabah stand-off 
• Beyond comprehension: Philippine Govt's un-involved observer stance over Sabah issue
• Atty Mel Sta Maria speaks: Remember when Pres Aquino said Sabah issue a "hopeless cause"

Kuala Lumpur's Bernama counters news about Sultanate Army base in Sabah

Malaysia's not so independent press is highly sceptical of Sultanate's guerilla army base in Sabah which the Philippine Star reported about recently, a report that was carried by virtually every single Malaysia press outfit. 

However, it is important to note that on anything related to Sabah conflict, Malaysia print and broadcast media are fed largely by the powerful Bernama, Kuala Lumpur's state-run press agency, which will say anything and everything to prop up UMNO Party and Prime Minister Najib's own National Front Party (Barisan Nasional.)

In effect, Bernama can be rightly branded as Kuala Lumpur's 'mind conditionning arm' as it helps UMNO and Najib perpetuate gross historical inaccuracies, etc.

Readers therefore must be sceptical of opinion-based pieces bordering on psy-war tactics that are passed up as news items in Malaysia press. 

Here is an example of today's Borneo Insider banner which is not exactly what one expects from a so-called full-pledged news reporting outfit. We can only surmise that someone in Borneo Insider must have been ordered by Bernama to copy-paste Kuala Lumpur's press release. 

April, 15, 2013 - 9:25 amFact or Fiction
Sultan Kiram’s men set up guerrilla base in Sabah jungle claim – report

KOTA KINABALU: Sultan Jamalul Kiram III and his erstwhile spokesman, Abraham Idjirani are at it again in what many believe is a psychological war being waged against Malaysian security sources.

With their raiding force almost decimated and their so-called Radja Mudah, Agbimuddin Kiram either hiding in Simunul, Tawi-Tawi or even dead, the Kirams have hatched yet another interesting tale.

If last week they said that the MNLF had sent 400 of its fighters to Sabah to shore up Abgimuddin and his remaining ‘army’, this time around they are claiming that the followers of the sultanate of Sulu have set up a guerrilla base in the hinterlands of Sabah.

For more: The Borneo Insider: Fact or Fiction

And as if that was not enough, The Borneo Insider posted a picture boasting a Malaysia Army armoured car; press photo caption smacks of deadly Malaysian challenge as it reads, "The Adnan VPC, an all-terrain armoured carrier and tank is waiting for Kiram’s men, wherever they are." 

Now, that to us sounds very much like a Bernama-sponsored psy-war gimmick ;-)

~~ Admins, Defenders of the Philippine Sabah and Spratly Claims
15 April 2013

Who will be the next Hadji Kamlon, Tausug warrior-leader, to lead the battle in Sabah?

HISTORIANA: The story of Tausug warrior Hadji Kamlon

Hadji Kamlon was a Moro and former WW2 guerilla hero who fought the Japanese and who, from 1948 to 1955, led a rebellion against the national government. 

He was considered by the Philippine military as the biggest threat to national security and a bandit to be feared but to the Tausugs, Kamlon was a folk hero, a local Robin Hood. He gathered a band armed with WW II rifles and pieces of the BAR (Browing Automatic Rifle) that could fire 20 bullets in one burst. 

Even with their heavy army tanks which rolled into the heart of the city daily, the military was still outdone by Kamlon, who had the support of the local population.
The exact cause for Kamlon’s rebellion had not been established but economic factors had been frequently blamed although conflict among local leaders contributed to it. 

For almost 4 years the government engaged Kamlon and, during the final assault, 5,000 ground troops were utilized along with naval, air and mortar supports. Logistical expenditures, after the final inventory, amounted to P 185 million. Despite all this cost, Kamlon could not be routed or captured. He finally gave up conditionally due to advancing age.

Elusive Bandit or Local Robin Hood?
Sulu Sea was said to be terrorized by a band of pirates headed by notorious “bandit leader” Kamlon who carried his piratical forays with his men up to Borneo where he attacked merchant vessels fleecing the ship and its passengers of their belongings. 

The “bandit chieftain” eluded arrest for more than three years almost upsetting the military budget hunting him down in the vastly scattered islands of the Sulu Archipelago. He was feared for his ability to disappear like a mist before the soldiers very eyes. Kamlon used both talisman (anting-anting) and automatic rifle to confront the old Philippine Constabulary (PC), AFP battalion, and the Air Force. His hidden island and jungle fortresses were legendary.

To the inhabitants of Sulu, Kamlon was loved and revered. He considered a local Robin Hood who looted from the rich and gave it to the poor. Like the mythical Robin Hood, the poor islanders who felt neglected by the national government saw Kamlon as their savior.

Even when the military intensified its campaign appealing to the island inhabitants to help government in the capture of Kamlon, the Moro villagers were tight lipped and uncooperative. No amount of huge prizes and rewards offered to those who could lead to the capture of the elusive bandit leader even by just identifying him could convince the natives to cooperate. The only answer the troopers could get in their query was “diih” that means “no” or “bukon” meaning “not him or not the one in the picture.”

Magsaysay and Kamlon
An article published in Time Magazine in August 11, 1952 entitled The Philippines: Peace Under the Palms, relates the meeting of Philippines Defense Secretary Ramon Magsaysay and the infamous Kamlon. Magsaysay was said to have a secret meeting with one of the toughest Moros of all—clever, poker-faced Bandit Leader Kamlon. Kamlon, leader of the most formidable of the scores of Moro bands that terrorize Jolo, finally sent feelers to imperial Manila with this message: He wanted fair treatment for his "people" and his family. He did not ask for financial rewards. If granted verbally, he would surrender.

First came a small boat from ashore with tokens of Kamlon's sincerity—baskets of fruit, to show friendship, and Kamlon's six-year-old son, to inspire confidence. Next came Bandit Kamlon himself, insistent on the pageantry for which the Filipino Mohammedans have always had a weakness, to request a formal surrender ceremony beneath the palms of Lahing-Lahing beach.

Some 200 of Kamlon's followers were already there, revolvers and rifles much in evidence and their sashed waists sagging with an assortment of bolos, barongs, krises and daggers.Their youngsters darted happily across the sand with knives at their sides, and their womenfolk stood near in the holiday splendor of pink, yellow, and apple-green clothes. Among them was Kamlon's faithful wife —some of the Moro leaders have as many as 80, but he is content with one. Kamlon, a peaceful farmer who had become something of a hero for killing Japanese during World War II, turned to banditry as a postwar vocation.

Solemnly chewing betel nut, he walked to Magsaysay, handed over his two pistols and a symbolic stack of 24 firearms, including BARs, carbines and old Japanese guns. 

In smooth tau-sog, Kamlon pledged the help of his band of 300 in Magsaysay's new campaign to quell the Moros, who are second only to the Communist Huks in defiance of Manila's rule. In English, Magsaysay praised Kamlon's guerrilla fight against the Japanese and promised him possible clemency, even offered to help Kamlon make the pilgrimage to Mecca. 

Then came the feast—mountains of eggs, crabs, shellfish, washed down with beer, and a skittish sip of the strange brown beverage (Coca-Cola) brought for the occasion by Magsaysay.

Magsaysay asked Kamlon to surrender, stand trial and serve time in prison. He also granted the few conditions Kamlon had asked. Kamlon was tried and stayed a few months in prison before pardon was granted by Magsaysay. 

In Manila, the news media called him a little bandit who terrorized Sulu islands for years. But Magsaysay viewed the situation differently, and without the advice of the so-called experts in geopolitics. Magsaysays promise to Kamlon was not "notarized" and did not resemble an executive agreement or treaty.

Magsaysay and Kamlon became friends. They also lived by their words. For years there was peace in the whole of Sulu archipelago that included Tawi-tawi, that was not a separate province in Kamlon's time.

~~ Posted by Defenders of the Philippine Sabah and Spratly Claims
13 April 2013


Source: Wiki Philippines

TIME ARTICLE:
The Philippines: Peace Under the Palms. Aug. 11, 1952 http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,857310,00.html