Kiram tells Sulu followers to conduct guerrilla warfare in Sabah

March 18, 2013

Self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III and his wife, Hadja Celia Kiram, answer questions during a news conference inside their residence at Maharlika village. — Reuters picKUALA LUMPUR, March 18 — Self-styled Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III has lifted a unilateral ceasefire and ordered his followers still in Sabah to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Malaysian security forces, according to media reports.
Malaysian Security forces yesterday killed another Sulu gunman in skirmishes in Kampung Tanjung Batu, near Lahad Datu, after a five-day lull in clashes that have resulted in 62 dead militants since their landing on February 9.
The Philippine Star quoted the ailing claimant to the throne as saying that the withdrawal of his army led by his brother Agbimuddin from Sabah was not an option.
“They are already in their homeland so why come back?” Jamalul told reporters at his residence in Taguig City in Manila.
Abraham Idjirani, spokesman for the sultanate, said the struggle in Sabah would continue.
He said the unilateral ceasefire order issued by the sultanate had been lifted and the sultan’s army had been ordered to conduct “hit and run” operations against the Malaysians.
Jamalul also maintained his younger brother was still in Sabah contrary to reports by Malaysian authorities who said Agbimuddin had fled home to the Philippine south.
Idjirani reportedly said he had spoken with Agbimuddin before midnight Saturday and he was informed that the group was intact.
According to the Philippine paper, Idjirani said the sultanate’s men, which now numbered 170, had separated into three groups to avoid Malaysian spy planes sweeping the skies above Lahad Datu.
But the Philippine Star also reported Agbimuddin to have returned to his native Sulu province along with his escorts, including some men from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), citing an unnamed security official.
According to the paper, the security official said Agbimuddin could have made his way through Lahad Datu on his way to Sandakan and initially slipped to either Sibutu or Sitangkai.
“It could be the others who were intercepted were probable a decoy or diversionary for their entry,” the source reportedly said, referring to the arrests made by the Philippine navy last week.
The Philippine navy had intercepted some two boats carrying 35 Sulu gunmen near Taganak Island and was now holding them at the marine base in Bato-bato, Panglima Sugala.
State news agency Bernama reported Malaysia’s security forces in two fresh gunfights with the Sulu gunmen yesterday morning, 36 days after a 200-strong group led by Agbimuddin landed in Kampung Tanduo, saying they were the Royal Army of the Sulu Sultanate.
Malaysian security forces have lost 10 men — eight policemen and two soldiers.
An unidentified teenage boy was also shot dead on Day 6 of Ops Daulat.
Yesterday’s gunbattle shattered a five-day lull as the security forces hunt down the remaining Sulu militants towards the end of Ops Daulat.
Sabah police chief Datuk Hamza Taib was reported by Bernama as saying yesterday that Kiram clansmen were among 104 people in police custody.
The police had detained them under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) and were trying to determine if they were linked to the Sulu militants.
Malaysia launched Ops Daulat three weeks after some 200 gunmen landed on February 9, kicking off the assault with an aerial strike of bombs and heavy artillery fire before dispatching its ground troops to make a clean sweep of the coastal villages here where Agbimuddin and his men were hiding.
But the elusive Agbimuddin and his men slipped out of sight, and are believed to be receiving aid from local villagers in the area, some of whom have been detained for questioning.
His kinsmen in the Philippines have also claimed in the media that the southern Filipino militant leader contacted them several times over the past week to inform them he was still safe.
Last Thursday, the Kiram clan called for a ceasefire but refused to pull its army from Lahad Datu.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak rejected the request, telling the gunmen to surrender unconditionally instead or face death.


Source themalaysianinsider