Muslim royal clan urged to surrender
Source: Agencies |
March 3, 2013, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Philippine president yesterday urged members of a Muslim royal clan from the southern Philippines who occupied a village in eastern Malaysia three weeks ago to surrender, one day after a shootout left 14 people dead.
About 200 clan members landed in the village of Lahad Datu in Sabah state on February 9 to claim the territory as their own, citing ownership documents from the late 1800s.
After the Filipinos arrived in the village, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said they should leave immediately or would face prosecution at home on charges of triggering an armed conflict, but the appeals were ignored.
On Friday, Malaysian authorities trying to end the standoff clashed with clan members, leaving 12 Filipinos and two Malaysian police commandos dead, Sabah Police Chief Hamza Taib said. Malaysian authorities said two other commandos were wounded, while the clan said four Filipinos were injured.
In a message to the group yesterday, Aquino said the clan members should "surrender now without conditions."
The Filipino group is led by a brother of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III of the southern Philippine province of Sulu. Jacel Kiram, a daughter of the sultan, indicated that her uncle, Agbimuddin Kiram, would not surrender.
The crisis erupted at a crucial stage of peace negotiations --between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebel group.
About 200 clan members landed in the village of Lahad Datu in Sabah state on February 9 to claim the territory as their own, citing ownership documents from the late 1800s.
After the Filipinos arrived in the village, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said they should leave immediately or would face prosecution at home on charges of triggering an armed conflict, but the appeals were ignored.
On Friday, Malaysian authorities trying to end the standoff clashed with clan members, leaving 12 Filipinos and two Malaysian police commandos dead, Sabah Police Chief Hamza Taib said. Malaysian authorities said two other commandos were wounded, while the clan said four Filipinos were injured.
In a message to the group yesterday, Aquino said the clan members should "surrender now without conditions."
The Filipino group is led by a brother of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III of the southern Philippine province of Sulu. Jacel Kiram, a daughter of the sultan, indicated that her uncle, Agbimuddin Kiram, would not surrender.
The crisis erupted at a crucial stage of peace negotiations --between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebel group.
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