Mar 5, 2013-Filipino activists protested in front of the Malaysian Embassy in Makati City, Manila to call for an end to the violence against armed groups aligned to the Sulu Sultanate in Sabah.
According to ANS-CBN News, the protesters also burnt poster depicting Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak shaking hands with Filipino President Benigno Aquino III.
Some 100 protesters gathered outside the embassy this morning soon after Malaysian security forces started to bombard Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu where the Sulu Sultanate’s army were holding up.
Protesters were made up of different groups. A portion of the protesters were clearly supportive of the Sulu Sultanate, describing its troops in Sabah as “Tausug Martyrs”.
Some groups did not have a religious tone and instead called on the Filipino government to revive the country’s claim over Sabah. Connie Bragas-Regalado, who heads Filipino migrant rights group Migrante, told Filipino news portalInquirer.net that the Sulu Sultanate’s claim over Sabah was “totally legitimate”.
The groups left peacefully before noon, but warned that there will be more protests.
The embassy was closed this morning. About 50 police personnel stood watch over the protesters.
