Sulu Governor Sakur Tan inspects a group of refugees who arrived Jolo town from North Borneo. And ARMM Commission on Human Rights head Atty. Laisa Alamia during a meeting with Governor Tan to discuss the issue of human rights abuses against Filipinos in Sabah. And the Bayanihan Sulu-style where locals help in putting up tents to be used as processing centers for Sabah refugees. (Sulu PIO)
SULU (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 12, 2013) – Sulu has intensified its preparation for the expected arrival of thousands of Filipinos, mostly Muslims, who continue to escape hostilities in North Borneo where Malaysian security forces are pursuing members of the Sultanate of Sulu.
More than a thousand have already landed in Sulu the past days and 200 more arrived on Tuesday aboard a chartered vessel from Sandakan in North Borneo.
Governor Sakur Tan said he ordered various agencies to prepare for the influx of refugees in the province. Tan personally visited refugees in processing centers in Jolo town and other areas in the province.
“Kawawa naman itong mga kababayan natin at talagang kahit sino ay maaantig naman sa kanilang sinapit ngayon at sana at ma-resolba ng mapayapa ang problema diyan sa Sabah,” Tan said.
He said tents were erected at the piers so the Department of Social Welfare and Development can immediately process refugees.
Fazlur-Rahman Abdulla, the head of the Sulu Area Coordinating Center, said Tan ordered as early as March 2 to prepare for possible outbreak of hostilities in North Borneo following the landing last month of more than 200 followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram headed by his brother Raja Muda Agbimuddin to exert their historical and legal rights over North Borneo, which is also being claimed by Malaysia.
“Actually before ng gulo ay ready na kaming lahat sa Sulu dahil na rin sa instructions ni Gov. Tan na maging handa palagi.May mga meetings na kami with various government agencies, and yun mga supply ng pagkain at kumot at kung anu-ano pa ay nakahanda na rin,” Abdulla said.
He said many people have volunteered to help in the humanitarian mission launched by the Sulu provincial government to help the refugees. “There are times, just like yesterday when numerous evacuees from Sabah suddenly arrived unannounced, even pitching a tent together by different workers, government and volunteers alike, is just an admirable feat. We’re here together to heed summon, making our hearts in unison. Salute to all of them,” Abdulla said.
Abdulla said Tan also met with Atty. Laisa Alamia, chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to discuss reports of human rights abuses on Filipinos in North Borneo.
Alamia also thanked Abdulla and the Sulu provincial government for assisting her in the mission. “Thanks for assisting me during my mission and for your group’s collaboration with the RHRC in monitoring the situation of the deportees/returnees from Sabah and in documenting cases of human rights violations experienced by them as a result of the Sabah conflict.”
“This crisis is of a magnitude that requires everyone’s effort and cooperation, including fence-sitters with a lot of time on FB (Facebook). Kudos to the social workers, volunteers, and other members of your team who are on the ground responding to the needs of the deportees 24/7. Keep it up,” she said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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