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Malaysia attacks Borneo group

March 5, 2013

Malaysian air and ground forces have launched an assault on a group from the Philippines occupying a Borneo town. Twenty-seven people had died in the standoff prior to Tuesday’s attack.

https://p.dw.com/p/17qS8
Malaysia Army commandos prepare to board a helicopter to join an assault near the area where a standoff with Filipino gunmen took place Tuesday, March 5, 2013, in Tanduo village, Lahad Datu, Sabab, Malaysia
Malaysia Army commandos prepare to board a helicopter to join the assaultImage: picture-alliance/AP

Jets bombed the area in eastern Sabah state for more than 30 minutes before hundreds of ground troops moved in to search for the estimated 100 to 300 members of the group, according to Malaysian officials. Police Inspector General Ismail Omar said there had been no casualties on his side.

"The longer this invasion lasts, it is clear to the authorities that the invaders do not intend to leave Sabah," Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said, adding that negotiations had gone nowhere. "The government must take action to safeguard the dignity and sovereignty of the country as required by the people."

The group arrived by boat on February 12 to reclaim a historical sultanate deeded to Malaysia by Britain at the end of the colonial period, and have holed up in a farming village since.

Violence first erupted on Friday in the district of Lahad Datu when a raid by police forces led to a shootout that left 12 members of the group and two police officers dead. About 300 kilometers (180 miles) away on Saturday, six police officers and six members of the group were killed in further fighting, and one member of the sultanate was reportedly beaten to death by locals.

A spokesman for Philippine President Benigno Aquino placed the blame for the assault on members of the group, who had gone there at the behest of their leader, Jamalul Kiram III.

"We've done everything we could to prevent this, but in the end, Kiram's people chose this path," Ricky Carandang said.

mkg/sd (AFP, Reuters, AP, dpa)