Lahad Datu (The Star/ANN) - The Philippines' Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is against the Sulu armed group's occupation of Tanduo village and is confident its actions will not derail the roadmap for peace in Mindanao.
Describing the stand-off as unnecessary, MILF first vice chairman Ghazali Jaafar said it was wrong for the followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III to pursue the Sabah claims by bearing arms in Malaysia.
"Any claim should be pursued through dialogue and not through the barrel of a gun.
"When you use guns, you are inviting harsh situations that affect people on both sides of the border," he said.
He said MILF was closely following the stand-off between the armed group led by Raja Muda Azzimudie, Jamalul's younger brother, and Malaysian security forces at Kampung Tanduo in the Felda Sahabat area.
Ghazali was confident the stand-off would not scuttle the October 15 peace framework between the Philippine government and MILF that was brokered by Malaysia.
"This framework is for everybody. Nobody is left out. It will see the establishment of a government for the Bangsamoro people. It includes a Bangsamoro basic law that is being drafted by a transition commission as well as an electoral process.
"Any Bangsamoro person who qualifies can run for political position including our brothers in MILF and heirs of the Sulu sultanate," he added.
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