Malaysia; When the peace-broker seeks blood

By Faber Concepcion

If we are to score a victory for the Sulu Sultanate, it is in its success in attracting international attention to what Pnoy has rendered as a ‘useless cause’ – a cause deliberately ‘forgotten’ by successive Philippine administrations. Outnumbered, outgunned and even outlawed, the Royal Army of the Sultanate of Sulu might have every intentions save winning militarily, notwithstanding the famed gallantry of its Tausug warriors. The vastly superior Malaysian defense infrastructure, by sheer force, has every reason to prevail as it employed a brutally disproportionate and unjustified firepower in its resolve to ‘wipe out’ the Sultan’s men as if fighting a conventional war. 

In the propaganda plane even, Malaysia is poised to eclipse the Sultanate’s success as the federation has masterfully unleashed its bigotry by tagging the ‘intruders’ now as ‘terrorists’ - which carries a wider legal implication, to justify the bloodbath, arrest anyone remotely considered as the Sultan’s supporters, and force Tausugs out of their homes regardless of status or nationality. What adds up to this Malaysian winning streak in propaganda is its success in maintaining Pres. Benigno Aquino’s tacit approval of the overkill of his own citizens and his open threat to prosecute the Sultan and his ‘co-conspirators.’

Aware of the gloomy prospects of a military victory, the Sultan’s unilateral declaration of a ceasefire after the UN Secretary-General’s call for cessation of hostilities in Sabah is a clear gesture of the Sultanate’s inclination to peaceful solutions by taking the issue for international arbitration as it is confident that its cause will hold water. The declaration of a unilateral ceasefire by the Sultan does not mean that they have swerved from their vow of willingness to fight to the last man and die for their cause. The Sultanate has made it clear: we submit to the UN and we are willing to negotiate.

Malaysia has however ignored the UN’s call and insists that the option to involve in negotiations is out of the table. It cane with So much for a state that calls itself a peace-broker…Remember, The Sulu Royal Army did not fire the first shot. They were provoked and given no choice but to defend themselves even until the last man falls- willing and prepared to do die even a hundred times. 

There are insinuations that the Sultanate’s unilateral declaration of a ceasefire is a clever move to avoid a humiliating defeat. But why fear a military defeat when there is no intention of engaging militarily? Out of a total force of around 200 (which includes women), only less than 30 were armed for the personal security of the crown prince, which is plausible. If the intention was otherwise, the Sultan would've mustered a far greater force. Characteristically, the Tausug warriors of the Sultanate of Sulu know no defeat, only victory or martyrdom. The current Sabah conflict, as in any other armed conflict, is not only a battle of guns and bullets but also a battle of hearts and minds, of principles, of dignity and honor.

Malaysia ’s acts of unnecessary aggression has resulted to inflicting collateral damage not only to the Tausug Sultan’s men but to her own self, only shows its haunting guilt of holding on to a property that does not or did not in anyway, belong to her by right and history. It is notable that the Royal Army of the Sultanate of Sulu on the other hand did not fire the first shot that led to violence, nor did they attack civilians.

Sultan's battle vs Ignorance of History

Although seemingly abandoned by the Philippine government, the Sultanate is not without supporters. Clothed with historical truths in their hands to their claim, the current conflict has gained even the support of majority of both informed Christian and Muslim Filipinos the world over just as Small Bites predicted the peoples of the world know now that Sabah (North Borneo) indeed, ever since rightfully belongs to the Suluks or Tausugs. Only the ignorance of history will prevent an objective mind from sympathizing with the Sultanate’s cause.

It is insane to please a neighbor while your own children are left to starve. 

Our government under the Pnoy administration has its reason why it considered "foolhardy" the adventurists exploit of the His Majesty Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III's Royal Forces when they set off and launched a "home coming journey" to their ancestral land long denied them. Asserting true ownership of a lost historically sacred ancient territory, to finally settle for good the rest of their remaining lives, thereat is plausible. Lahad Datu has become their ultimate resting place to redeem and restore what they believed was and is rightfully theirs. But what prevented Pnoy from helping them? so that government is blamed for inaction?  In the claim apparently obvious, was the doubt of the Chief Executive on the merit of our claim that couldn't accordingly, endure the test of legal arbitration or mediation. Contrary to others’ perception that Pnoy was not well verse of the issue or simply didn't have the will or trust to help the Sulu Sultanate for he has altogether the intent to just forget it despite its being dormant. The Sabah issue, in fact, is close to Pnoy's heart. He had a deep grasp of Sabah . His father, the late Sen. Benigno Aquino, Jr. contribute to Sabah's elevation to its historic status aside from being a disputed territory rather on  how the latter frustrated dictator Marcos' way of claiming it which was by means of occupation. But, things shifted to worst and too late, as bloods of both the martyrs and innocent begun to flow in Sabah . If Sen. Ninoy is alive, and if he had his way, he wouldn't allow blood to flow and lives to perish much more if Ninoy knew it that it is due to inaction or too late response by his son President. Sen. Ninoy flew personally  to Sulu after the Jabidah Massacre relative to North Borneo indicating his dire concerned for the Tausugs and his  indubitable TRUST for them, the Sultan.

 There were valid reasons why former President Diosdado Macapagal, without having second thought pursued the claim on Sabah . Why can't we start from there? Somehow, somewhere with battery of good lawyers and scholars of history revive the claim before International Court of Justice, United Nations (UN)? Optimistic that if with the assistance of this government and the general clamor of the Filipino nation, a resolution might possibly be achieved at, who knows sooner or later, but better still sooner, so that issue can be put to rest once and for all. Whether we achieve it or not, at least we tried. If we fail, so be it. For as long as we did it peacefully, with civility, honor, dignity and probity because Sabah is ours under the laws of nature, man and God.

Ghurar Al-Hikam; "He who trusts others gains love for them."

Mr. President, your move.