Sulu sultan spokesman says fighters not on the run

MANILA, Philippines - The almost 1,161 fighters of the Sultanate of Sulu and volunteers from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) are now employing guerilla tactics against the Malaysian security forces in Lahad Datu, Sabah.

"They are now employing guerilla tactics. They are not on the run as the Malaysian forces are not pursuing them. There is now a lull in the fighting," said the sultanate's spokesman Abraham Idjirani.

Idjirani said fighters of the sultanate's Royal Security Force led bybRaja Muda Agbimmudin Kiram are under orders to stay put and remain in a defensive posture against the Malaysian security forces until the unilateral ceasefire earlier declared by the Sulu sultanate is lifted.

Idjirani said the date of the lifting of the ceasefire will be set after a meeting between the sultanate's council of shariffs and top commanders of the MNLF in Zamboanga City today (June 23).

The meeting will be facilitated by Hajib Mujaha Hashim, chairman of the MNLF’s Islamic Command Council.

Idjirani earlier said a certain Commander Najer, one of the commanders of the sultanate's Royal Security Force (RSF), called him up Tuesday and reported that the 161 remaining RSF fighters led by Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram are now running low on ammunition and food.

Idjirani said that at the moment, the RSF fighters are still on ceasefire mode following the call of the United Nations for sobriety.

According to Idjirani, the Malaysian forces are also not making any moves against the RSF. Abe said the 161 RSF fighters augmented by 1,000 volunteer fighters from the MNLF are still camped in the outskirts of Lahad Datu.

"The Malaysians are also not moving...We told (our troops) that they would be reprimanded if they will do so (attack the Malaysians). We have not lifted the ceasefire. We are adhering to the call of the United Nations for sobriety and are still waiting for the Malaysians to sit down with us and talk," he said.

According to Idjirani, Sultanate of Sulu is prepared to talk with the Malaysians based on the call of the UN. The RSF entered Sabah last March 1.

"The Sultanate of Sulu is ready to talk with the Malaysians based on the call of the UN. We are assuring the Filipino people that we are not initiating any moves against the Malaysian forces," he said.

Earlier, the Sultanate of Sulu said the RSF forces have broken up into smaller guerrilla groups in Kampung Tanduo and Tanjung Batu to evade  Malaysian security forces in Tawau which is Sabah’s third largest town after Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan.

“They have observed that it is easy to enter Lahad Datu from Tawau that is why they are beefing-up their position there,” said Idjirani.