Here’s the 4am edition of my news site: Firefight nego ends (Ch News Asia headline: “Diplomatic efforts hit a roadblock”); PNoy calls on sultan followers to stand down (surrender was the word he used in his statement) ( abs-cbn headline: “Aquino addresses Sabah conflict”); “Sabah, Malaysia’s ‘Wild East’” (Agence France Presse, storified by interaksyon, rappler); “Aquino says Sabah is a conspiracy” (rappler); “Sultan daughter blasts Aquino over conspiracy claim” (abs-cbn); “Only an intervention can end Sabah conflict” (Inquirer); “KL sends ‘cavalry’ to Sabah” (Agence France Presse, Associated Press, the star, Asia News Network, storified by Inquirer). Read all the stories, to have a panoramic view of the Sabah firefight, with details and context, at:
Here’s the story on which the blog post title was based.From Agence France Presse :
” xxx
“The exact identities of the armed men remains a mystery, but Malaysia’s military chief, Zulkifeli Zin, told a press conference in Sabah on Sunday that the intruders appeared to have combat experience.
“Their “insurgency guerrilla technique is quite good,” he was quoted as saying.
“Zulkifeli said Malaysia’s military and the police were adopting a cautious approach in their plan to resolve the standoff with Agbimuddin’s group in Tanduao.
“He noted that Agbimuddin’s group had planned their location around the village in such a way that they would inflict casualties if Malaysian security forces enter the area.
“They are at the center and have people spread out, including snipers,” Zulkifeli said.
” “They know we will suffer casualties if we go in as the area is open,” he said.
” “They are under close surveillance by our special forces,” Zulkifeli said.
“But he added that while Malaysia was determined to “bring this episode to a close” as soon as possible, any action would take a little more time.”
A battalion of Malaysian Pengkalan Chapa army forces head for Sabah, & more news
“Kota Baru: A group of soldiers from the 21st Battalion Royal Malay Regiment at the 8th Brigade Camp, Pengkalan Chepa, left for Sabah as additional troops xxx Armed Forces chief Jen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin was reported to have said that two more army battalions would be deployed in several areas in the east coast of Sabah in an effort to restore public confidence.:” (thestar.com) “…(T)he conflict could reach Kunak and the interior of Lahad Datu… new possible flash points are in the east coast of Sabah, including Kunak.. The Star online’s report said the Malaysian army and police are now working on a strategy to storm the group of Kiram’s brother Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram… (gmanews quoting thestar.com). “289 deportees arrive from Sabah in Zamboanga (abs-cbn)
Other stories: DOE commissions study on cost of electricity (interaksyon). Mecca bulldozes historical sites (Al Jazeera).
World: Bomb kills 45 in Karachi (rappler); Bangkok governor gets 2nd term (interaksyon); Thailand cracksdown on wildlife trafficking (Al Jazeera); General says killing of Mali militant not confirmed (NY Times) Baby w/ HIV is reported cured (NY Times, ChNews Asia, interkaksyon, rappler)…