THE Aquino administration should share the liability for the bloody end of the standoff in Sabah for its noynoying on the issue as the violence escalates.
The standoff recently got worse as the conflict escalated into Malaysian forces launching air strikes and mortar attacks on the Filipinos holed up in the coastal area of Lahad Datu. 19 Filipino armed men and 8 Malaysian police officers have died in the 3 week standoff.
Kabataan Partylist President Terry Ridon noted that the stand-off was an offshoot of loopholes in the ongoing negotiations under the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement.
“The standoff in Sabah is a manifestation that there are still pertinent issues in the ongoing peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that need to be addressed. From the very beginning, we have pointed out that there are still many controversies in the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement that the government has failed to resolve, such as the case of the sultanate of Sulu,” Ridon said.
Ridon added that the government’s increasingly insensitive attitude towards the Sultanate of Sulu and its followers is only making the situation more hostile. “By insisting the Filipinos in Sabah simply just ‘Go Home’ even after the bombing shows that the government is not prepared to address their grievances” he said.
Ridon challenged the administration to “send someone over there, part of the issue is working towards greater peace with Malaysia. The Palace is so fixated only dealing with the issue if the Filipinos go home, it disregards and disrespects the lives at stake. With every ‘Go Home’ assertion in place of pursuing peace, Filipinos will continue to die.”
Meanwhile, Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond Palatino hit Aquino for “essentially being absent” during a crisis situation.
“Where is the President at this point when our Muslim brothers in Sabah are being killed? He’s out there campaigning with his party and basically not performing his duties as chief executive,” Palatino said.
‘Double standards’
Kabataan Partylist also criticized the way that the government “essentially gave up” on the Sabah claim too easily with President Aquino even quoted as saying that it is a “hopeless cause,” even if the sultanate of Sulu has compelling historical and legal bases to back its claim.
“While the government is vehemently opposing Chinese occupation of Spratlys and Panatag Shoal, it essentially raised the white flag in Sabah without hesitation, even if it is clear that the Philippines has a strong case to claim sovereignty over the disputed land,” Ridon said.
Kabataan Partylist called on the government to actively pursue diplomatic talks with the Malaysian government and ensure that no more casualties would result from the stand-off. “We also call on the government to support and revive the Sabah claim with fervor, and raise the issue to international courts if necessary,” Ridon said.
Youth groups held simultaneous candle lighting protests all over Metro Manila to condemn the inaction of the administration over the Standoff. They called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and for the Aquino regime to be held accountable for its criminal neglect/noynoying.