'Sabah crisis not only a Muslim concern'
By Dharel Placido, ABS-CBNnews.com
Posted at 04/02/2013 2:31 PM | Updated as of 04/02/2013 2:31 PM
MANILA – The Sabah crisis is not only a matter of concern for Muslim people in the Philippines and Malaysia, the spokesperson of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III said.
Kiram spokesperson Abraham Idjirani said their latest move to approach the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) was to show that the Sabah conflict is not isolated to Muslim Mindanao.
"Hindi lang kailangan Muslim ang mag-usap-usap dito, ngunit kailangan din natin ng third party katulad ng CBCP kung saan ang magsasalita ay naaayon lamang sa divine law," he told radio dzMM.
"If we cannot resolve the issue sa man-made laws, bakit 'di natin puntahan ang divine laws? We cannot neglect the fact that CBCP has the role to play. Alam natin ang CBCP ay tumutugon sa mga problema na nangangailangan ng solusyon para sa kapayaapaan."
Idjirani, Kiram adviser Pastor Boy Saycon and Princess Jacel Kiram on Monday held a meeting with CBCP President Jose Palma to discuss the Sabah issue.
The Kirams presented documents and pieces of evidence to prove claims of abuse of Filipinos in Sabah to Palma, in an attempt to earn the sympathy of the CBCP, and hopefully, the Holy See.
Luckily for the Kirams, Palma was set to leave on Monday night for the Vatican to attend an international congress and seminar. Palma said he will try to bring the issue to a proper Vatican agency.
"Ang pakay ng sultanate is to prove to the whole world na 'di lang sa Muslim, but before our Christian brothers, na ang hinahangad ng sultanate ay kapayapaan. Ang iniisip natin ay magkaisa para makamtan ang kapayapaan sa Sabah," Idjirani said.
"Wala tayong inaasahan kundi iyung tulungan tayo lalong lalo na ng CBCP na magkaroon ng stand on Sabah…. Lalong lalo na itong bagong santo papa kung saan ang puso niya ay napakalapit sa mahihirap at napakalapit sa pangangailangan ng mundo," he added.
Idjirani also claimed that some 25-30 percent of residents in Sabah are Christians.
The Kirams have been lamenting the Aquino adminstration's non-support for their decision to send troops to Sabah to assert their ownership of the resource-rich territory.
The government has maintained it will only hold talks with the Kirams once the royal army soldiers pull out of Sabah.
The Philippine government, nonetheless, claimed it will try to revive the country's claim to Sabah.
16 charged in Sabah crisis
In a recent development, the Malaysian government has filed new charges against 7 more Filipinos and a Malaysian policeman in connection with the standoff.
State-run news agency Bernama reported that five of the Filipinos are facing charges of terrorism and waging war against the king, which are punishable by life imprisonment and death, respectively.
Another accused is facing four charges under sections 121, 130K, 130KA and 130E of the Penal Code for recruiting and harboring terrorists.
The seventh Filipino, meanwhile, is facing one charge under section 130KA (harboring terrorists) of the penal code.
The ages of the seven accused range from 20 to 63. No plea was recorded for them.
The Filipinos, alleged supporters of the sultan who claims to own Sabah, faced the Lahad Datu Sessions Court under Judge Rajalingam a/l S.S. Maniam.
The eighth suspect, a police corporal, was charged for "intentionally refraining from disclosing information on terrorist acts" under section 130M of the Penal Code.
So far, 16 people have been charged in connection with the conflict that started February 12.
Last March 20, eight suspected Kiram followers were already charged for terrorism and waging war against the king.
The Malaysian government had already granted the Philipine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) consular access to the first eight supporters indicted in Sabah.
DFA Spokesperson Raul Hernandez said the DFA received a note verbale from Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying that consular access to the eight will be granted in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
Source: 'Sabah crisis not only a Muslim concern' | ABS-CBN News