MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 10, 2013) – The Philippines on Sunday expressed grave concern about the human rights violations committed against Filipinos in North Borneo which is being claimed by Malaysia and the Sultanate of Sulu.
Manila urged Malaysia to give access to Philippine Embassy officials and humanitarian teams in Lahad Datu town and other areas where Malaysian security forces have launched a massive assault on about 200 followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram headed by his brother Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram.
Dozens of sultanate followers were killed in the continuing assault.
The group went to North Borneo last month to exert determination and historical rights over the oil-rich island, home to about 800,000 Filipinos. Malaysia has begun a crackdown on illegal Filipino immigrants and workers.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs views with grave concern the alleged rounding up of community members of Suluk/Tausug descent in Lahad Datu and other areas in Sabah and the alleged violations of human rights reported in the media by some Filipinos who arrived in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi from Sabah,” said a government statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
“We reiterate our call on the Malaysian Government to give humane treatment to the Filipinos under their custody,” it said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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