Lahad Datu standoff over, 2 commandos killed

10 of the intruders have surrendered while Malaysian authorities are pursuing the rest.

UPDATED

LAHAD DATU: The standoff in Sabah between the “royal army” of the Sultanate of Sulu and Malaysian authorities is over, Malaysian Ambassador to Philippines Mohammad Zamri Mohammad Kassim told Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario in a Manila meeting today.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Raul Hernandez told reporters at a press conference that ambassador Kassim met with Del Rosario around 2pm to inform them that the standoff has ended.

Kassim informed Del Rosario that 10 members of the “royal army” surrendered after Malaysian authorities “conducted an assault at Lahad Datu at 10 this morning,” Hernandez said.

Lahad Datu is the village where hundreds of followers of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, led by his brother Agbimuddin Kiram, had encamped since Feb 11 despite repeated demands from the Malaysian government to leave.

“The group of Kiram at Lahad Datu escaped and ran towards the sea, 10 men surrendered,” he added.

Malaysian authorities are pursuing the group, Hernandez said.

The owner of the house where Agbimuddin Kiram had stayed was killed, according to Ambassador Kassim.

At least two Malaysian police commandos were killed and one wounded when their vehicle was fired upon by the Kiram group, Hernandez said.

Del Rosario asked from the Malaysian ambassador for “a full briefing of the operations that were conducted by Malaysian forces,” he added.

Del Rosario also asked that full access be given to the Kiram group so that medical treatment could be provided to the wounded as well as consular assistance.

‘No shots fired’
Permission is also being sought by the government to allow a Philippine Navy Ship, the BRP Tagbanua, to dock so that it could ferry the remaining members of the group back to their homes and families.

A spokesman of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III claimed that 10 of their men were killed and four others were wounded in the firefight.

The “royal army” of the Sultanate of Sulu was in Sabah allegedly to reclaim their territory.

Earlier, at the outbreak of the violence, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said Malaysian security forces did not fire any shots at the intruders.

“I confirm that our security forces did not fire a single shot but were shot at about 10am this morning!,” he said in his tweet, without mentioning whether an operation was underway to detain the armed intruders.

Hishammuddin later told reporters that the Malaysian government had given the intruders enough time to retreat and return to their own country.

Malaysia had also practised diplomacy and patience to provide the group with all avenues, including through negotiations, to urge them to end the standoff and return.

“I want to remind the group who encroached into Sabah to refrain from saying that the Malaysian government did not give enough time to retreat. We have been very accommodative and diplomatic in our approach to end the crisis,” he told reporters.

‘Curfew-like’ situation

Meanwhile, Lahad Datu and neighboring Semporna constituencies are under tight security following the shootout between the holed-up intruders and Malaysian security forces.

FMT sources reported a “curfew-like” situation in Lahad Datu where all shops, banks and schools were reportedly ordered to shut down this morning in tandem with widely circulating text messages advising the public to stay home.

All roads leading into Lahad Datu have been closed and flights into Tawau and Sandakan have also been cancelled.

A Lahad Datu resident said while the standoff was over, the situation was “unsettling”.

The sources said the Suluk community in Kampung Kaka in Jalan Dam, about 15 minutes from the town centre, had reportedly occupied two shops while Malaysian General Operation Force personnel have taken over six shops.

Also, there are reports of Sulu flags seen flying in Kampung Panji, a squatter area close to Lahad Datu town.

Another text message to FMT described the situation in Lahad Datu as “tensed”.

“Most people are indoors.. the town is deserted except for green and brown camouflage painted military vehicles mounted with machine-guns.”

People here especially those staying in Kampung Panji are worried that those associated with the group may direct attacks along the east coast, including in Semporna and Lahad Datu town, where the Suluks have a strong presence.

Police have also tightened security in Semporna, which is hosts to thousands of Filipinos. Semporna has seen multiple raids by armed groups as well as acts of piracy over the years.

Semporna, incidentally, is the home constituency of Umno vice-president Shafie Apdal.