UP Prof & Team filed complain to United Nations for Malaysian Human Rights abuses to Filipinos

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay and UN High Commissioner for Refugees, 

Malaysia to face UN over Sabah Filipino abuses claims

Outraged Philippine civil society groups have filed human rights violations complaints against Malaysia to the United Nations over serious allegations by returning Filipinos fleeing the month-long armed conflict raging in Sabah's restive east coast, the Manila Times reported.

The Philippine newspaper reported concerned groups and individuals had lodged reports yesterday with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay (picture), and UN High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, who are both based in Geneva, Switzerland, after failing to move the Aquino administration to exert pressure on Putrajaya.

The activists were reported to have petitioned the two UN agencies to "urgently intervene so that Malaysia will respect the human rights of the Filipinos in Sabah, recognised under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

Among the signatories named by the daily were the Concerned Citizens Movement, CenterLaw, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, and Anakbayan. Individuals who signed the letter included Philippine human rights lawyer Harry Roque, activist nun Sister Mary John Mananzan, whistleblower Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada, journalist Vergel Santos, and political strategist Pastor "Boy" Saycon, who serves as adviser to Jamalul Kiram III, one of the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu.

The campaigners also asked the two UN bodies "to express grave concern on the massive and gross human rights violations by Malaysia against Filipinos in Sabah" and to remind Malaysia to "provide effective remedies and compensation to the Filipino victims of the massive and gross human rights violations committed against them by Malaysian state agents", according to the daily.

Citing the activists, the paper reported Malaysia's authorities had violated numerous provisions in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights on protection against discrimination, life, liberty, security, torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, arbitrary arrest, detention or exile, and right to a fair trial.

The activists were reported to have penned two 11-page letters citing media reports, particularly from the widely-read The Philippine Daily Inquirer, detailing the maltreatment of Filipinos in Sabah starting from February 14 when "suspected Filipino gunmen numbering between 80 and 100 were cornered in Sabah on Borneo Island, triggering the start of the Sabah standoff."

The Philippine media have been highlighting the growing restlessness among Filipinos at Malaysia's heavy-handed handling of the Sabah conflict, despite having previously assured it would practise "maximum tolerance" while Manila continues talks with the Kiram clan, a marginalised Muslim faction claiming to be heirs of the 17th-century Sulu sultanate who had been left out of peace negotiations brokered by Putrajaya last year.

Some 5,000 Filipinos have returned to their homeland with tales of human rights abuses that have enraged fellow Philippine citizens and lawmakers since the Sabah crisis began on February, triggered by Sulu rebel leader Agbimuddin Kiram's invasion of the north Borneo state which has been under Malaysian rule for the past 50 years since 1963.

Fierce gunfights have claimed the lives of 62 Sulu militants, eight Malaysian policemen and two soldiers.

Civilians of unknown nationalities have also been reported killed in clashes, caught between the Malaysian security forces hunting down the foreign intruders and spurred thousands of Filipinos to flee Sabah for their homeland out of fear of capture.

The Philippine Senate has demanded its government hold Malaysia accountable for the possible human rights violations on the 800,000-strong Filipino migrant community in Sabah at the hands of local authorities searching for a ragtag band of Sulu militants claiming ownership of the north Borneo state.

The volatile situation in Sabah appears to be election fodder with both the Philippines and Malaysia readying for national polls this year.

With Report From Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Times, Malaya and Malaysian Insider  

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Taking Control: China sends biggest Warship Yuzheng 312, heading to West Philippine Sea

China's Biggest Warship Yuzheng 312 to be stationed in the West Philippines Sea to protect the Chinese Fishermen in the foreign territory .

China sends biggest ship to West Philippine Sea

China has commissioned its largest patrol ship to carry out a law enforcement mission in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), a Chinese fishery official has announced.

The Chinese official was quoted by Chinese newspapers as saying that Yuzheng 312, the Chinese fleet's largest in terms of displacement, had left Guangzhou and sailed to the South China Sea to better safeguard the interests of Chinese fishermen there.

The vessel has a displacement of 49.5 million tons and a navigation capability of 2,400 nautical miles with a maximum speed of 14 knots.

The move came after the South China Sea Fleet under the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) recently dispatched several modern warships to carry out high-sea training mission in the disputed region.

Reports emanating from Beijing said Chinese Navy's high-sea training include complex scenarios close to actual combats, which will effectively enhance its capability to accomplish diversified military tasks.

This is the second time the Chinese Navy has organized routine military training this year in the South China Sea.

The warships participating in the training include the Lanzhou, a guided missile destroyer, the Yulin and Hengshui, guided missile frigates, the Jinggangshan, an amphibious dock landing warship.

According to reports these ships are all equipped with long-range air-defense and anti-ship missiles, short-range quick air-defense guns and ship-borne helicopters, and are of comprehensive combat capabilities such as strong regional and point air defense as well as anti-submarine and anti-ship capabilities.

The warships will sail across the Bashi Channel and carry out a series of actual combat confrontation drills in the Western Pacific on such training subjects as maritime maneuver operation, maritime sovereignty protection, high-sea escort, support operation, and so on.

AFP News - Undated handout photo released by the Kayalaan Municipal office in 2011 shows Kalayaan island in the Spratlys, a chain of islets in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). The Philippines has deployed 800 more Marines and opened a new headquarters to guard its interests in the disputed Spratly islands, which China also claims, a senior military official said Sunday.

Chinese officials said these trainings will fully display the determination of the Chinese government and the armed forces to safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the region.

Moreover, they said the training will test and improve the commanding and coordination capability as well as comprehensive combat capability to accomplish diversified military tasks of the Chinese naval forces.

China already confirmed that these high-sea trainings conform to international laws and international common practice.

With report from Yahoo News!

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