DOJ execs says initial talks with Kirams went smoothly

One of the emissaries sent by President Benigno S. Aquino III to the camp of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III talked to the media for the first time Thursday about his role in government's initial attempts to negotiate with the Kirams.

Justice assistant secretary Zabedin Azis said talks between Kiram and his team, also composed of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman, were going smoothly on Feb. 18 and Feb. 19, 2013.

The talks took place at the Kiram residence in Taguig City.

Azis said during those talks, the Sultan's camp showed signs of being open to recalling their "Royal Army" already holed up at the time in the village of Lahad Datu, Sabah.

He said his team relayed President Aquino's message to the Kirams: call back the armed men to prevent bloodshed, then talks on the Sultanate's claim to Sabah will take place after.

Azis clarified at no point during the Feb. 18 and Feb. 19 talks did their team threaten the Kirams.

In fact, he said, the team told the Kirams at the time that no charges will be filed against their men should they heed the President's call.

"I would just like to clarify some issues na sinasabi ng mga kaibigan natin, especially on the side of the Sultan of Sulu, na during the negotiations tini-threaten sila na cases will be filed against them and there was no room for negotiations, and yung mga pinapapunta daw sa kanila na negotiators hindi alam ang culture ng mga Muslim," Azis said.

"We negotiated very civilly. Gov. Mujiv Hataman was talking to them in a very friendly atmosphere," he said.

Azis said the Kirams were receptive to the idea of recalling their men peacefully, fully aware that talks with the government about their Sabah claim cannot take place while the armed fighters remain in Lahad Datu, Sabah.

"In the first two days na we were dealing with them, parang okey na, may understanding. Tatawagan ang kapatid ng Sultan, si Ismael, para pauwiin na yung mga nasa Lahad Datu," he said.

"I don't know what happened pagdating dito sa Maynila, sabi ni Mujiv, parang nag-iba na ang ihip ng hangin," he said.

While Azis denied any threats were issued to the Kirams, he admitted their team discussed the consequences of the Sultanate's actions.

He said the larger picture is the ongoing peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front which may be derailed because of the Lahad Datu conflict.

"Gov. Hataman just explained to them what would be the consequences of their act if they do not cooperate with the government. The bigger issue here is the peace process of Mindanao. This is the main issue here. We are now on the final stages of the framework agreement…this is being mediated by the Malaysians," Azis said.

"Palagi nila sinasabi na we threatened them. No. We never threatened them but we just explained to them the consequences of their acts," he said.

Azis also disclosed their team told the Kirams President Aquino was willing to sit down with them to discuss the Sabah claim but only after the "Royal Army's" return.

He said the manner by which the Sultanate forced itself into Lahad Datu was not the proper way to assert its claim over Sabah.

"If you listen to them, bumabalik lang sila sa homeland nila and ano daw kasalanan nila if babalik sila sa homeland nila. How many of us here are renting properties? Alam natin batas natin.. If ikaw may-ari ng isang lupa na pinauupahan mo, hindi ka basta-basta makakapunta sa property na yan without the permission of the tenant," Azis said.

"Sinasabi nila na nirerentahan sila ng Malaysia, then necessarily, hindi nila basta-basta malulusob ang property…even assuming sila ang may-ari ng property for the sake of argument; they have to negotiate," he said.

"I still pray na the Sultan of Sulu will realize na the claim to [Sabah] can take more time. If nakapagpigil sila for a long period of time, bakit hindi sila makapag-antay pa?" Azis added. (PNA)