Groups urge Phl, Malaysia to heed UN's call

MANILA, Philippines - Activist groups on Friday expressed support to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's call to peacefully resolve the ongoing conflict in Sabah between the Malaysian armed forces and the Royal Sultanate of Sulu.

Anakpawis partylist and Pamalakaya said the international community, including UN, should compel Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and President Benigno Aquino III to both agree to work for a peaceful resolution to the Sabah conflict.

"The Prime Minister of Malaysia and the Manila government should heed to the appeal of UN Secretary general and quit from joint and separately ganging up the forces and personnel of the Royal Sultanate of Sulu in Sabah and in the country," the groups said.

Earlier, the UN official urged all parties to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance and act in full respect of international human rights norms and standards.

The groups said that only the Sultanate of Sulu has agreed to the call of the UN by declaring a unilateral ceasefire in response to Ban’s call.

Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III issued a declaration of cessation of hostilities to pave way for diplomatic and peaceful resolution to the Sabah crisis.

The Malaysian prime minister, however, refused to declare a ceasefire and insisted that the offensive against Kiram's men will continue unless they will surrender.

"It is now the turn of Prime Minister Razak and President Aquino to reciprocate the politically and morally correct gesture of the Royal Sultanate. The leaders of Malaysia and the Manila government should drop their obsession for senseless war and grave violations of human rights and come to their senses to avert the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sabah," the groups added.