VACC kay PNoy: Magpadala ng peacekeepers sa Sabah

MANILA, Philippines – Nanawagan ang Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) ngayong Lunes kay Pangulong Benigno Aquino III na magpadala ng Filipino peacekeepers sa Lahad Datu, Sabah upang tulungan ang 200 tauhan ng Sultanato ng Sulu.

“The Philippine government has been genuinely contributing to peace among strife-torn countries by sending peace keeping forces. In the same vein, the VACC strongly suggests to President Benigno Aquino III that he sends a peacekeeping contingent to Sabah to help maintain peace where massive attacks are being waged by the Malaysian government against the followers of the Sultan of Sulu, Jamalul Kiram III in Lahad Datu,” sabi ni Dante Jimenez, pangulo at founding chairman ng VACC.

Binatikos naman ni Jimenez ang pagpapadala ng peacekeepers ng gobyerno sa ibang bansa tulad ng Syria – kung saan may 21 Pilipinong United Nations peacekeepers ang binihag ng mga rebelde – pero hindi sa Sabah.

“Casualties from the violence in Sabah have reportedly reached 61 mostly Filipinos. All indications point that the killings will continue as Malaysia continues to defy the United Nations’ call for peace. The Philippine government has been sending peacekeeping forces to countries torn by war. Why not send a similar peacekeeping contingent to Sabah?” dagdag ni Jimenez.

Sinabi ni Jimenez na ang pagpapadala ng peacekeeping contingent ay maaaring makatulong sa pagpigil ng muling pagtindi ng tensyon sa Sabah.

“Our Muslim brothers in Mindanao are being mercilessly routed by Malaysian forces. The Malaysians are not listening to proposals by the Sultan for a unilateral ceasefire. They are ignoring the United Nations’ call for sobriety. They are committing genocide against our Muslim brothers at Lahad Datu.  A peacekeeping contingent may prevent further escalation of violence of Filipino Muslims in Sabah,” dagdag ni Jimenez.

Nangako naman si Jimenez ng tulong legal sa pamilya ng Kiram at nagsabing handa ang grupo na magbigay ng mga abogado kung magsasampa ng kaso ng mass killings at murder kotra Malaysia sa International Criminal Court of Justice at sa International Human Rights Commission.

Ikinatuwa naman ni Abarahan Idjirani, tagapagsalita ng sultanato, ang panawagan ng Commission of Human Rights sa mga Pilipinong minaltrato umano ng awtoridad ng Malaysia na dalhin ang isyu sa international human rights body.

“We support the stand of the CHR on this,” sabi ni Idjirani.