PHILIPPINES: “A BROKEN NATION”, SULU IS NOT BOUND!

Neldy Jolo

GMANews.TV on Saturday, November 27 reported, a Hong Kong-based human rights group, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has called the Philippines a "broken and lawless nation." This was concluded because of the Hong Kong tourist who died as hostage in Manila and killing of two farmers in Mindanao.

As quoted by GMANews.TV, AHRC stated in the article published in its website, "In a country where an individual can no longer protect himself, he cannot protect his family; a family that cannot protect its members, cannot protect the community where they belong; and a person, a family and a community that cannot protect itself cannot protect a Nation. A Nation that cannot protect its own citizens, their families and the community where they live cannot hope to protect the foreigners on its soil. It is a broken and lawless nation."

Tausug ask Philippines Please...Withdraw from Our Beloved Country. Photo: TGM Staff

Recently, Philippine Peace Panel was complaining about the Malaysian facilitator, Datuk Othman Abdul Razak in the GRP-MILF peace talks. Philippine Peace Panel was accusing Datuk Othman being impartial, although none of the claim was proven true. This accusation is causing much frustration to the Mindanao and Sulu citizens, so much to the youth. This led to the impasse of the supposed talks after Ramadan promised by Philippine President Benigno Aquino III in his inaugural speech in Manila last July.

On the other hand, MILF wanted Datuk Othman to be remained as facilitator because of his knowledge and proven to be credible. However, the decision to replace Datuk Othman is in the hand of Malaysia. If the peace talks cannot start as early as possible, there might be a big shift of the cause since Mindanao youth have urge the MILF leadership in their assembly to go back to the original cause of the struggle, that is independence. The independence cause was drop by the MILF during the facilitation of Malaysia. There might also be another war in Mindanao, hopefully none.

Philippines is also facing the world’s attention for bad images through the travel advisory of France, England, Australia and United States of America. In the travel advisory recommended not to travel to Sulu Archipelago; those are Zamboanga City, Basilan, Jolo, Siasi, and Tawi-Tawi because of the presence of extremist groups. These places are supposedly safe under own government, the Sultanate of Sulu Darul Islam. Until Philippines is totally withdraw from the Sulu territory, no peace shall reign and no justice would occur. The complete freedom would remain a nightmare. The absence of the Philippines in Sulu territory is a death to the alleged extremism and terrorism. Social and economic business will function smoothly.

It is proven Philippines have been a “broken and lawless nation” even before its independence from the United States of America. Sulu and Mindanao were included in their nation, imagined nation – the Filipino Nation which culture and politics are too far to compare to that of Sulu and Mindanao.

Sulu Archipelago has its own state-government, the Sultanate of Sulu Darul Islam. It was started in 17 November 1405 by its first Sultan, Paduka Mahasari Maulana Al-Sultan Sharif Al-Hashim Sayyid Abubakar. It was stolen when Paduka Mahasari Maulana Al-Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Kiram II died in 1936. Sulu right now is no longer part of the Philippines. The Tausug said in the streamer, “Philippines Please Withdraw from Our Beloved Country”. Tausug are no longer Filipino Citizens, they are Tausug Citizens.

Now that Sultanate of Sulu is back after about 74 years of living in the “lawless and broken nation”. The assertion of independence of the Sultanate of Sulu as Darul Islam has been declared last 17 November 2010 in front of the thousands of Tausug Citizens at Tulay Plaza, Jolo, Sulu Darul Islam. The Tausug citizens were also celebrating the 605^th anniversary of the Sulu Sultanate as sovereign state as well as Eidl Adha, the annual feast of sacrifice and Hajj of the Muslims around the world. Whatever you may call or name to the Philippines, Sulu is not included or bound in such names.