VACC extends support, pledges legal aid to Kirams

MANILA, Philippines - The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) on Monday extended its support to the Sultanate of Sabah and North Borneo as it urged President Benigno Aquino III to send a peacekeeping contingent to Lahad Datu in Sabah where some 200 forces of the sultanate led by Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram are still in conflict with Malaysian security forces.

“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,” said Dante Jimenez, VACC president and founding chairman.

Jimenez lashed at the government for sending peacekeeping forces to other countries affected by war such as Syria - where some 21 Filipino United Nations peacekeepers were captured by Syrian rebels and later released – but not in 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?” Jimenez added.

“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,” he added.

Jimenez said the VACC will extend the assistance of its volunteer lawyers to assist the Kiram family in bringing the case of mass killings and murders against Malaysia to the International Criminal Court of Justice and the International Human Rights Commission.

Meanwhile, Abarahan Idjirani welcomed the call of the Commission on Human Rights on Filipinos in Sabah who are allegedly victims of atrocities by Malaysian authorities to bring the issue of human rights abuse before an international human rights body.

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