SULU (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 17, 2013) – This southern province, which is at the forefront of a massive humanitarian mission to save and assist Filipino refugees from Sabah, continues to work silently – free from media blitz and publicity – in an effort to alleviate the harrowing situation of thousands of people fleeing the crackdown on illegal migrants and workers in the eastern state of Malaysia.
One dramatic event occurred in Parang town as narrated to the Mindanao Examiner by Fazlur Abdulla, head of the Sulu Area Coordinating Center, when a boatload of Muslim refugees, mostly from Sulu province, arrived from Sabah, but refused to disembark on the sight of policemen assisting in the humanitarian mission.
This is Abdulla’s narrative. “This is a true story of a brief drama when the sea vessel M/L Anraisa docked in the sub-port of Parang town in Sulu province. I sent the Sulu Area Coordinating Council team led by Munir A. Dail, External Relations Officer, to join the group of Department of Social Welfare and Development to the town when report of Sabah evacuees reached us. According to Mr. Dail, some evacuees were hesitant to disembark probably due to their apprehension with the presence of police group and other reps of authorities meeting them.”
“He boarded the boat and talked with an elder man of that group where they were assured that the presence of the authorities in the wharf was to welcome and appropriately help them. When they were convinced, one by one they disembarked from the boat to the waiting teams who provided them attention and care. It is the essence of Sulu Humanitarian Reception for Sabah Evacuees, which includes MLGU of Parang and Jolo, DSWD, Parang Health District, PNP, Marines, RPMA, and other local officials and groups”.
Abdulla said the early preparation of the Sulu provincial government ahead of the humanitarian crisis in Sabah was critical to the efforts of the Aquino administration to effectively address the exodus of Filipinos following the intrusion of 200 followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram to Lahad Datu town to exert the historical rights of the Sultanate of Sulu on the the oil-rich island.
He said Sulu Governor Sakur Tan immediately convened the Provincial Peace and Order Council to discuss contingencies on the possibility that thousands of Filipinos might flee Sabah due to the conflict.
Tan said although he was worried that the provincial governmenbt resources are not enough to accommodate the number of evacuees that would come to Sulu, and the negative impact this would bring on the peace and order situation in the province, he said “our province must be prepared for any eventuality that may arise from the situation in Sabah.”
Tan created the Ad Hoc Task force through the Sulu Area Coordinating Center which is compose of different government agencies, according to Abdulla. (Mindanao Examiner)
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