I think labelling them "terrorist" have done wonders. This is also being picked up by foreign news and also the respective country's travel advisories.

By labelling them as terrorist, Malaysia now has the right to freeze assets of the said perpetrators and their sympathisers. If the US also label them as terrorist and recognized their terror acts, then they can say bye bye to any international recognition to their Sultanate claims.

Which I believe is the main reason why suddenly MNLF and whatever F is announcing that they are not in any way supporting the struggle or even suggesting any violent means to achieve it. Because at the current moment, they are still a recognized entity in the Philipines and the world. Imagine if suddenly their organisation being labeled as terrorist and funding of terrorist, it would do extreme harm to their fight for the Bangsamoro cause. They would be hunted down like the Jemaah Islamyiaah group. The US in Philipines will also be lending support in terms of surveillence, intel etc. In other words, diplomatically they would have killed their own aspirations as a nation.

Also the MNLF committee which was previously very quiet on the matter suddenly released a statement regarding their non-support for the Suluk cause and reject their armed struggle philosophy. And instead suggest diplomatic ways to discuss the matter. Also they even have to censure their own founder Nur Misuari for claiming MNLF is sending 10k troops and threatening Manila and KL will be targets if Suluks are harmed. This only makes them look more like terrorist which is what they are trying to avoid.

So in short, the Suluks are now caught between their pride and their future as a recognized entity. If they do not renounce their violent struggle, they just torpedoed their only escape from being labelled a terrorist group. MNLF has officially remounce their support for armed Suluk struggle for Sabah. MILF which is friendlier to Malaysia also announced that this has nothing to do with them and does not see any need for violence.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysi...-safe-in-sabah/

Family: Agbimuddin hungry but safe in Sabah
MARCH 08, 2013


Jacel (left) said women and children are being shot indiscriminately. – File pic

MANILA, March 8 — Rebel leader Agbimuddin Kiram’s family told local media that Agbimuddin and his band of rebels are safe in Lahad Datu, although they are now suffering from hunger because of constantly evading Malaysian security forces’ relentless assault, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported today.

The Inquirer reported that Abraham Idjirani, spokesperson of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, also confirmed that members of the Kirams’  Royal Security Forces have “regrouped”.

“They are constantly moving, not by boat, not by any means of transportation but by themselves.… They are on foot.… They are suffering from hunger,” Idjirani said at a press conference.

The report also said Idjirani was able to talk to Agbimuddin at around 2:30pm today.

Earlier, Jamalul Kiram’s daughter, Jacel Kiram, told the media that her uncle was safe in Lahad Datu but lambasted what she described as “maximum violence” unleashed by the Malaysian police and military.

“I was able to speak to one woman (in Tawi-Tawi) who kept on crying because she said children and women were being shot. While there was a call for maximum tolerance, there is indiscriminate firing (by the Malaysians).

“Maximum violence is what is happening.

“The instruction for them is to be always on the defensive, just be ready for any assault or attack. Just defense, no attack,” she said.

“Unfortunately, Malaysia is emboldened and decided to finish off the Filipinos in Sabah. It is clear that the government of PNoy  is very much in support of the Malaysian government.

“We pray and hope the President’s being Filipino would prevail so that he would address the situation in Sabah.”

She added that the fighting in Lahad Datu could not have happened had the emissaries of Malacanang been “efficient and effective.”

“What we need is to talk because if they really want to resolve this peacefully, our government should prove that. We want to talk if Malaysia wants to end this peacefully. We want to talk, but why don’t they want to talk to us?” Jacel was quoted as saying.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer also stated that Agbimuddin told Idjirani to ask the media’s help in “influencing Malaysia to follow the call of the United Nations to take heed of sobriety and dialogue with the Sultanate of Sulu.”

We're at war? Really? 

A2. I don't go well with pedants(Recall I said I was uncertain of the usage of term). Forgive me, as I recall they did have a conflict. Non-violent though. Are you trying to discredit me with with some unrelated historical question?
You're incredibly clever for correcting me, do you feel so proud now? GOOD ON YOU.
Now back on the topic- can I read news on both sides online, and from a neutral party? It's terribly confusing. And I'm still reading the first page of this thread.
Peace.

Dayumm they got RPG's ?? I saw on the news their most advanced is automatic rifle, like M16, also M203 grenade launcher...

please do a backup copy for the pdf man. they might catch up and try to delete it.

signed liao, waiting others.

i wonder if US can put their believe in politically unstable pinoy

US also having a bad time with pinoy gomen...pinoy's corruption & transparency are much much worst than malaysia..

thats why they awal2 lagi say they dont want to interfere when kiram ask US help