By
Faber Concepcion
It is hoped that subsequent clashes between the Sultan’s royal fighters and Malaysian forces would not end up as bloody as the hair-raising historic Bud Daho Massacre where overkill was employed by American attackers just to subdue the beleaguered Tausug defenders.
Just as Small Bites predicted in the last column, an end to this carnage will not be achieved at a “cheap price.”
Betrayal and Treachery
Let me refresh your memory. During the centennial anniversary of Bud Dajo Massacre in 2006, an elaborately celebrated commemoration of the event was done at the peak of Mount Daho, reminding the Tausugs, American visitors and others in attendance of the bitter past, closing that chapter of history with high hopes for better relations.
However, for the Sultanate of Sulu, the war continues, elsewhere.
107 years ago today, March 7, approximately 1000 souls, mostly women and children perished in one of the colonial era’s bloodiest encounters in defense of the Sultanate of Sulu. In this event, there was betrayal and treachery, and it is unlikely that history will not repeat itself.
***
Malaysian online media Malaysian Digest tags Sulu Royal Army as “terrorists.”
Now we are at it again, the Malaysia media has vilified or even worse , demonized the loyal followers of the sultan of Sulu from “intruders, who are seeking a lost and stolen kingdom” to a mere “terrorists” first, who are fighting for their right to legitimately reclaim Sabah but now obviously, fighting for their lives.
Malaysian media as we all know is not as free as in the Philippines or in any other democracies in the free world in the exercise of the freedom of expression, full of inconsistencies, slanted news reportages, and even biased one sided or sometimes inaccurate, with an unforgivable tendency to irresponsibility by tagging the Royal Sulu Sultan Army as “ terrorist”. News reports indicated the Sultanate’s Raja Muda followers are no longer branded as intruders but now described as terrorists. Who are the terrorist? How can the group be called as terrorists?” Call some of the Sabah populace a terrorists, especially those who stood against Malaysian authorities because they are sympathetic to the cause of the Sultan of Sulu in Sempornah, Lahad Datu, Tawau or Kudat as terrorists, include therefore, as well, the political oppositions that some had insinuated to have a hand in the ‘intrusion.’ A shift in terminology and tagging is uncalled for.
Misleading as it is, it is not far off that a seemingly slight glitch in the use of terms, such as this ‘terrorist’ misnomer in the body of the news would slowly creep its way up to taking the screaming headline without touch to reality.
Now that it seems apparent that the Philippine President relies, for the most part, on Malaysian information for its pronouncements, we may well ask: Will the president subscribe to this malicious name-calling?
***
The Holy Book says:
"They plot and plan, and God too plans; but God is the best of planners." (8:30)
***
Conspirators…., your move!
The moment of truth is come. Just as Small Bites
strongly expressed last issue about the fears that the tension in the
three-week Sabah standoff would finally slide down to an armed confrontation.
It indeed happened and it’s bloody.
It is hoped that subsequent clashes between the Sultan’s royal fighters and Malaysian forces would not end up as bloody as the hair-raising historic Bud Daho Massacre where overkill was employed by American attackers just to subdue the beleaguered Tausug defenders.
Just as Small Bites predicted in the last column, an end to this carnage will not be achieved at a “cheap price.”
Betrayal and Treachery
Let me refresh your memory. During the centennial anniversary of Bud Dajo Massacre in 2006, an elaborately celebrated commemoration of the event was done at the peak of Mount Daho, reminding the Tausugs, American visitors and others in attendance of the bitter past, closing that chapter of history with high hopes for better relations.
However, for the Sultanate of Sulu, the war continues, elsewhere.
107 years ago today, March 7, approximately 1000 souls, mostly women and children perished in one of the colonial era’s bloodiest encounters in defense of the Sultanate of Sulu. In this event, there was betrayal and treachery, and it is unlikely that history will not repeat itself.
***
Malaysian online media Malaysian Digest tags Sulu Royal Army as “terrorists.”
Now we are at it again, the Malaysia media has vilified or even worse , demonized the loyal followers of the sultan of Sulu from “intruders, who are seeking a lost and stolen kingdom” to a mere “terrorists” first, who are fighting for their right to legitimately reclaim Sabah but now obviously, fighting for their lives.
Malaysian media as we all know is not as free as in the Philippines or in any other democracies in the free world in the exercise of the freedom of expression, full of inconsistencies, slanted news reportages, and even biased one sided or sometimes inaccurate, with an unforgivable tendency to irresponsibility by tagging the Royal Sulu Sultan Army as “ terrorist”. News reports indicated the Sultanate’s Raja Muda followers are no longer branded as intruders but now described as terrorists. Who are the terrorist? How can the group be called as terrorists?” Call some of the Sabah populace a terrorists, especially those who stood against Malaysian authorities because they are sympathetic to the cause of the Sultan of Sulu in Sempornah, Lahad Datu, Tawau or Kudat as terrorists, include therefore, as well, the political oppositions that some had insinuated to have a hand in the ‘intrusion.’ A shift in terminology and tagging is uncalled for.
Misleading as it is, it is not far off that a seemingly slight glitch in the use of terms, such as this ‘terrorist’ misnomer in the body of the news would slowly creep its way up to taking the screaming headline without touch to reality.
Now that it seems apparent that the Philippine President relies, for the most part, on Malaysian information for its pronouncements, we may well ask: Will the president subscribe to this malicious name-calling?
***
The Holy Book says:
"They plot and plan, and God too plans; but God is the best of planners." (8:30)
***
Conspirators…., your move!
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