BY CLARA CHOOI
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
“We are firm in our stand that surrender is not acceptable,” she was quoted as saying in the online report.
Another uncle of Jacel’s, sultanate elder Bantilan Esmail Kiram II met with Philippine Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas yesterday to discuss the possibility of pulling the Kiram forces from Sabah and ending the month-long incursion.
Both Esmail and Roxas confirmed that their discussion had centred around “disengagement” of the Sultanate’s “royal army”, but would not elaborate on the matter.
Today, Roxas said he had conveyed several queries raised by Esmail to Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and the latter has directed the Department of Foreign Affair (DFA) to relay them to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“Personally, I am positive that what has been talked about is for the interest and protection of the Filipino people,” Jacel said in the ABS-CBN News report.
The Kiram family had called for a ceasefire last Thursday upon receiving reports that more of its gunmen were falling from battles with Malaysian forces but Putrajaya rejected the appeal.
But Najib, in an immediate reaction, told the invaders to surrender unconditionally or face death.
In another news report by Interaksyon, sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani said that the consideration for “disengagement” had never been on the cards for the Kiram clan.
He reportedly said that it was Roxas who had unilaterally raised the option.
The report also quoted Jamalul’s wife Fatima Cecelia as agreeing with Idjirani and pointing out that the family had never thought of “disengagement” as they were aware this would be misconstrued as surrender.
Meanwhile, Interaksyon reported that according to Esmail’s son Abu Bakar in Sabah, he has been in touch with Agbimuddin and the “crown prince” had said that he is still alive, despite the deadly crackdown by Malaysian forces.
In the 7am phone conversation this morning, Agbimuddin had also reportedly said: “While you are negotiating there, we remain under fire, the fighting goes on.”
Malaysian security forces have been on a relentless search for the gunmen since the launch of Ops Daulat last Tuesday.
To date, 57 militants have been killed in gunfights.
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 – Despite talk of
“disengagement” of the Sulu army, the daughter of self-styled Sulu
Sultan Jamalul Kiram III said today that surrender is still not an
option for her uncle Agbimuddin Kiram and his troops in Sabah.
Jacel Kiram said in an ABS-CBN News report here that while she hopes
the latest attempt to settle the conflict amicably would result in a
peaceful end to the violence, the Kiram clan was still firm on its
decision not to “surrender” its claim over Sabah.“We are firm in our stand that surrender is not acceptable,” she was quoted as saying in the online report.
Another uncle of Jacel’s, sultanate elder Bantilan Esmail Kiram II met with Philippine Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas yesterday to discuss the possibility of pulling the Kiram forces from Sabah and ending the month-long incursion.
Both Esmail and Roxas confirmed that their discussion had centred around “disengagement” of the Sultanate’s “royal army”, but would not elaborate on the matter.
Today, Roxas said he had conveyed several queries raised by Esmail to Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and the latter has directed the Department of Foreign Affair (DFA) to relay them to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“Personally, I am positive that what has been talked about is for the interest and protection of the Filipino people,” Jacel said in the ABS-CBN News report.
The Kiram family had called for a ceasefire last Thursday upon receiving reports that more of its gunmen were falling from battles with Malaysian forces but Putrajaya rejected the appeal.
But Najib, in an immediate reaction, told the invaders to surrender unconditionally or face death.
In another news report by Interaksyon, sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani said that the consideration for “disengagement” had never been on the cards for the Kiram clan.
He reportedly said that it was Roxas who had unilaterally raised the option.
The report also quoted Jamalul’s wife Fatima Cecelia as agreeing with Idjirani and pointing out that the family had never thought of “disengagement” as they were aware this would be misconstrued as surrender.
Meanwhile, Interaksyon reported that according to Esmail’s son Abu Bakar in Sabah, he has been in touch with Agbimuddin and the “crown prince” had said that he is still alive, despite the deadly crackdown by Malaysian forces.
In the 7am phone conversation this morning, Agbimuddin had also reportedly said: “While you are negotiating there, we remain under fire, the fighting goes on.”
Malaysian security forces have been on a relentless search for the gunmen since the launch of Ops Daulat last Tuesday.
To date, 57 militants have been killed in gunfights.
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