“Chief negotiator’ urges discussion, not military response

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KOTA KINABALU: A Sabahan, claiming to be the chief negotiator for the nine Sulu sultanate heirs recognized under the Macaskie Judgement 1939, has called on the Malaysian Government to resolve the one month-long Lahad Datu intrusion without further bloodshed.

Datu Omar Ali Datu Bachtiyal said while hardline military response to wipe out the Sulu armed group still holed up in Lahad Datu could eliminate the immediate threat, it was not the solution to address the core issue that had led to the intrusion in the first place.

“We support Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman’s statement that the line of diplomacy is still open despite Ops Daulat being carried out. I believe roundtable discussion is the way to promote peaceful solution to the issue,” he said in a press conference here yesterday.

Omar, who is also Persatuan Kebajikan Anak Seni Sabah’s (PEKA) adviser, said Malaysia was the peace broker for the conflict in southern Thailand and was the mediator that helped bring about peaceful solution to the conflicts in the southern Philippines.

With this in view, he said it was only appropriate that the Malaysian government proves to the world that it does what it preaches and works towards negotiating peaceful solution when confronted with a similar situation, urging Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to reconsider Jamalul Kiram’s call for ceasefire.

“I must make it clear that by doing this it does not mean that I am on their (Jamalul Kiram) side nor I want Sabah to be under the Philippines (Sulu). Malaysia is our country, we were born here and we will die Malaysians.

“However, our lives as Sabahans have been, one way or another, affected and will continue to be affected even more if this continues. In just over three weeks, we have already seen the negative impact, people are fleeing their homes, businesses are shut, tourists could not come (to Lahad Datu), we are already on the losing end.

“So, I humbly call on the Prime Minister to be sympathetic and employ good thinking that puts diplomatic approach above aggression. What is done is done, but now let us take a pause and look at this from a different perspective.

“The other side has repeatedly indicated willingness to negotiate, even if we are not open to negotiation anymore or don’t want to use the term negotiation, at least let’s talk and discuss. After all, there was no negotiation ever really taking place before the shooting started,” said Omar who produced a letter dated June 26, 2007 signed by the nine Sultanate heirs verifying his status as the chief negotiator for the Kiram’s family.

Omar announced that a people-initiated platform known as Sabah-Sulu Peace Foundation will be set up soon for promoting better understanding, and discuss and resolve the Sabah claim issue in brotherly spirit.

He said the foundation whose members would consist of ordinary people from all ethnic groups in Sabah, would take on the huge task to promote a peaceful solution to the issue while at the same time foster better relationship and mutual respects between communities in Sabah and southern Philippines.

“It will be a movement of ordinary people that welcomes participation of all segment of the communities, regardless of ethnic group and religious background. Ultimately, it will be the voice of the silent majority, to balance the decision made of the few leaders.

“We hope all peace loving people in Sabah will contribute in anyway they can towards the setting up of the foundation, and consequently to achieve its noble objectives.

“We will be enlisting the support of veteran politicians and leaders for this purpose. The foundation could also serve as a mediator or even as a platform itself for peace finding discussion in a situation, like the one we are having now in Lahad Datu,” he said.