Assalamu Alaykum Warah Matullahi Warabarakatuhu
and
Peace be to you all!
The contested Spratley Islands originally belonged to the ancestral domain of the Sultanate of Sulu and Sabah at a time when its sphere of influence was felt in the whole of Southeast Asia as a maritime empire. This sultanate rose in prominence as a sovereign power when many of its present neighbors were still in their infancy as kingdom-nations and when Manila and its environs was an uncolonized swampland.
When the Sultan of Sulu undertook early trade missions with the great empire of China, he offered 2 islets of the Spratleys to the Emperor of China as a gift. This sealed their harmonious trade relationship which has been respected by all succeeding Sulu sultans up to the present.
The unbroken line of Sultans of Sulu and Sabah in this archipelago passed on the legacy of their heritage and rule to their direct successors: Al-Marhum Sultan Mohd. Jamalul Kiram II was the reigning sultan towards the close of the Period of the Philippine Revolution against Spain until the Period of the Philippine Commonwealth. He made treaties with several nations within his long reign. Having no offspring of his own, he passed on his authority and power to his youngest brother, Al-Marhum Sultan Mohd. Mawallil Wasit Kiram.
Al-Marhum Sultan Mohd. Esmail Kiram I , 1950-1973, the eldest son of Sultan Mawallil Wasit was bestowed the title of Sultan of Sabah as Raja Muda. He entrusted some authority to the GRP during the administration of Pres. Diosdado Macapagal in 1967 and of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos in 1969.
Al-Marhum Sultan Mohd. Mahakuttah Kiram, 1974-1986, eldest son of Sultan Esmail Kiram I, was recognized by the Philippines and Malaysia as the Sultan of the whole Sulu Archipelago and Sabah. His eldest son is the present Raja Muda Muedzul Lail Kiram.
The Raja Muda Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram, the rightful heir to the Sultanate of Sulu and Sabah, makes this declaration:
The Sultanate of Sulu and Sabah has reserved the right to choose nations as allies. This is by virtue of historical previlege supported by her religious traditions.
The past agreements incurred between the Sulu Sultanate and China are upheld and cannot be revoked as a testament to their long standing mutual respect and friendship. As nations of long memories, China remembers the special relationship with Nusantara of old; the Sultanate of Sulu and Sabah likewise recalls the glorious past with China with gratitude. We now declare our intention to strengthen and expand our relations with China. We now call on the other contending nations who claim ownership of the Spratleys to stop their bickering and respect historical traditions as civilized nations!
Wassalam!
SGD:
HRH MUEDZUL-LAIL T. KIRAM
Raja Muda of the Sultanate of Sulu
Signed on this day the official declaration together with the presence of the Council of Elders, Religious Advisers, Sectoral Representatives, Representative of Ra’ayats of the Sulu Sultanate.
