Official Website of the Sultan of Sulu

JIHAD OR SUICIDE?

“An Analysis of the Contemporary Moro Struggle”
by Darwin Absari

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Compassionate. Praise be to Allah who has made His graciousness to His worshippers, which is the revelation of His grace, a clear guide to knowledge of Him. I testify that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad (S.A.W.) is His messenger.

Know, O brother that by being humble, one is elevated to the highest spiritual rank, then when he is in the station where there is no place, his pure heart will enable him to see the Truth directly. I rejoice to find these two qualities in you. These are favors which Allah reserves for His elect as they are wings one can fly to the realm close to his Lord. May Allah increases you in knowledge and registers you among the witnesses of truth. May Allah decrees for you in this world that which is good and also in the hereafter.

I decided to write to you what we had discussed regarding my assessment of the contemporary Moro struggle. It was what Allah has inspired me to understand according to my capacity. I shall however inform you that my intention of writing this down is not to underestimate their ma’rifah (gnosis). To get killed is indeed the bravest act, and so it is to this fact that I wish to bring our attention. Our religion commands us to value life, Allah says, “do not kill yourselves (or one another).”    “…and whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption (done) in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely”   because it is from this life that we derive our strength just as Allah derives His attributes of knowledge, will, power, speech, hearing and sight from His attribute of life. Although in Islam we are told to fight, the Holy Qur’an says, “Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. Allah does not like transgressors.” “And fight them until there is no fitnah and (until) the religion (i.e., worship), all of it, is for Allah.” “And what is (the matter) with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and (for) the oppressed …..?”   But when war is not directed and utilized in the cause which God has determined, according to the law of creation, it becomes deviant. Then it results in wars of conquest waged for material expansion and destruction of humanity. It is for this reason that the term jihad is always attached to the locution fi sabilillah (in the way of Allah) and it is here that one must be very careful. Perhaps one may ask why are we concerned in examining the contemporary Moro struggle. I say, jihad is always the answer whenever we ask our brothers who are fighting. But without grasping the essential significant meaning of the term fi sabilillah, although one may think that he is fighting for God’s cause, in reality, he is actually committing what I may refer, suicide, and there is no reward but punishment for this. “But if you are killed in the cause of Allah or die – then forgiveness from Allah and mercy are better than whatever they accumulate (in this world). And whether you die or are killed, unto Allah you will be gathered.”

I shall not indulge myself of going into the details of the struggle since you know it better than I do, but I say it once again that it is not fought in the way of Allah. Much has been said about jihad fi sabilillah. Muslim scholars say that the way of Allah is the very path of the well-being and betterment of human society. It is the way of justice, truth and human liberty. But I say that the way of Allah is the manifestation of His Divine Mercy. If we are to grasp the significant meaning of fi sabilillah, we must begin to understand this Divine Mercy. It is through this Mercy that Almighty Allah first brought the universe into existence from Himself, and in virtue of His name Most Compassionate (al-Rahman) He exists in all things that He brought into being. Nothing becomes manifests from the All-merciful but objects of mercy. But it is only from the position of tawhid (union) that it can be understood where both the strugglers (Muslims) and the enemies (the none-Muslims) are embraced in this Oneness. Here, one must be able to see things in their proper places, one should learn to recognize God, His presence in every form in which He discloses Himself and in every form in which He descends. There is no difference, each is an object where God discloses Himself according to their forms. Both must be viewed as God’s servants through whom His Divine Mercy is manifested. And it is in the battlefield where the highest gnosis can be made manifest. We may be patient in fulfilling our obligations to Allah, in praying five times a day, in fasting during the month of Ramadan, in following Allah’s Divine Law. We may be patient when hunger, loss of wealth, and lives strike us. But how about when it is our own life that is being asked by Allah? As Allah says, “And if We had decreed upon, “Kill yourselves” or “Leave your homes” they would not have done it, except for a few of them.”   “And indeed, there is among you he who lingers behind…” and so because of it, “not equal are those believers remaining (at home) – other than the disabled – and the mujahideen, (who strive and fight) in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred the mujahideen through their wealth and their lives over those who remain (behind), by degrees…”

War, dear brother is the best way where Allah tests us. Allah Most High says, “And we will surely test you until We make evident those who strive among you (for the cause of Allah) and the patient, We will test your affairs.”   And He tests us by means of other people. We must realize that it is also Allah who inspires the enemies to attack us. When the Mongols invaded Nishapur putting the residents of that place mercilessly to sword, the Muslims came to Attar for help. Attar turned his bowl and all the soldiers turned blind and the massacre was stopped. Genghis Khan ordered the massacre to be carried on. Attar again turned his bowl and the soldiers turned blind. On the third day, Genghis Khan himself appeared on the scene and again ordered his soldiers to kill, the Muslims again came to Attar, when he was about to turn his bowl, Hadrat Khidr appeared before him and said, “Refrain from interfering with the mandates of the Lord. You shall be taken to task for what you have already done, whilst terrible will be the consequences to you if you repeat the thing over again.”
How many of us who have killed each other over a piece of land or a political position? How many of us who have turned away from the remembrance of Allah? How many of us who have divided our religion and became sects? How many of us who have desired the commodities of this world while Allah desires for us the hereafter? So Allah has to test us, “And were it not that Allah checks the people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of Allah is much mentioned.”   But let it be noted, Allah has to test us because He has mercy on us. Trial means that God listens to our prayers and it is the way by which God purifies us. “And that Allah may purify the believers through trials…”   and He is purifying us because He wants to embrace us with His Divine Mercy. But most of us are not patient with the decision of our Lord. The true believers are grateful when there is trial because they know that they have already gained the mercy from their Lord. The more trial they will face, the more humble they will become. They are the people who when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.” Those are the ones upon whom are the blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it those who are the (rightly) guided.”

Among the tests which are mentioned in the Holy Qur’an is fear, it is when the enemy comes to our homeland. “And We will surely test you with something of fear...”   God commands us, thus, “O you who have believed, when you meet those who disbelieved advancing (for battle), do not turn to them your backs (in flight).”    “…… so fear them not, but fear Me…”   Here we can proudly say that most of our brothers were never frightened by our enemy, they have hearts solidified by the faith in God. They have endured and remained stationed although there are some of them who were not steadfast, who betrayed the cause and turned their backs to join the enemy. But how do we kill or be killed is another test.

We know from the beginning that the rise of the contemporary Moro struggle was triggered by the jabidah massacre. This incident was used to agitate the Moros to fight. So that what dominated then was anger and hatred towards the government. As a result, war became revenge. Our brothers were proud to kill as many military as they can. They rejoice to cut enemies’ head and chopped the bodies. This is a manifest error. This is not the way of Allah. Getting killed in emotionalism out of someone’s agitation is suicide and killing out of anger and vengeance is murder. Islam reveres humanity all the time and respects morality even in the battlefields. The killing of the enemy for enjoyment of victory is inhibited. We are advised to observe justice and fairness. “… do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just, that is nearer to righteousness….”   The Holy Qur’an clearly tells us, “…do not transgress. Allah does not like transgressors.” Imam Jafar Sadiq (A.S.) says, “Anytime the messenger of God intended to dispatch an army or manage an expedition, he advised the soldiers as follows: Fight in the name of God, that is God ought to be your aim, march in the path of God, and do not trespass your brethren’s share of booties…. Do not mutilate the limbs of the killed ones. Do not break your vows and treaties. Do not slay old men and women and children. Do not uproot a green tree unless you are forced to do so.” because jihad is not just killing but a demonstration of God’s Divine Mercy.

As I have hinted out earlier that it is also God who inspires the disbelievers to attack the Muslims. It is because that He may punish them by our hands. In one verse Allah most high says, “Fight them; Allah will punish them by your hands….”   The Arm Forces of the Philippines may appear to be brave and confident in television, but we know in reality, behind the scenes they are afraid. Should there be a choice, I am certain that they will not fight. But this is not a matter of choice but a matter of realizing God’s divine command. If only they realize what I am saying, they will willingly give their lives because it is an act of fulfilling that command. The punishment here is not out of anger but still, it is God’s Mercy encompassing His Wrath.   He punishes them because He has mercy on them. He wants them to repent and return to Him, and their way of repentance and return is for them to get killed. Unfortunately, anger veils them from this. So too, they are committing suicide.

These are the means by which Allah’s Divine Mercy is manifested. This mercy, says Ibn Arabi comprises and includes all things and that all people and creatures end up with mercy. The path of Allah is the path of and towards His Divine Mercy, and both are essentially struggling in this path. Those who realize this is a martyr, regardless of which side they are. A martyr is not the one who stands to protect the Hula, Bangsa, Agama , or the one who is killed for the cause of Islam. These are deceptions of the ego. Those who fight this way are not fighting for God’s sake, but for the sake of the ego. A true martyr is the one who is able to see Allah in the buried manifestations both in the horizons (i.e., the enemy) and in themselves. The root word for Shahadat which is martyrdom signifies witnessing . A shahid or martyr is the one who has experienced the shuhud (vision) of truth. Thus, to die fighting for Allah is to die a Gnostics. This is why according to our shari’at, he needs not be washed with outward water for he has been washed by the inward water of purification through direct experience of the presence of Lordship. It is for this reason that Allah most high says of them, “And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allah, “They are dead.” Rather, they are alive, but you perceive (it) not.”   But again immortality should not be our goal. I should say that a true martyr should not hope for any reward for it is as if putting back the veil after it has been lifted. This is the good test which Allah mentions in the Holy Qur’an, “…that He might test the believers with a good test…”

The good test here is what I may refer as the “Tawhid of Jihad” to which only few of our brothers understood. Many of them have slipped. In most cases the tawhid of the Moro fighters in war is that “none should harm them except Allah.” A good warrior is one who is invulnerable. I do not discourage this invulnerability in battle, perhaps if not because of this, our small tribe has been washed away by our enemies during the centuries of bitter warfare, but they have not in a way escaped the subtle intrigues of the ego. Jihad is either taking or giving one’s life for Allah’s sake. The Tawhid of jihad is where both the believers and the disbelievers are annihilated in God’s Divine Mercy. But this is something that lies not in one’s action and intention but in one’s ma’rifah (gnosis).

In one battle Hazrat Ali, the fourth caliph had overpowered an enemy warrior and had his dagger at the man’s throat when the nonbeliever spat in his face. Immediately Hazrat ‘Ali got up, sheathed his dagger, and told the man, “Taking your life is unlawful to me. Go away!” The man who had saved his life by spitting in the face of ‘Ali, was amazed. “O ‘Ali,” he asked, “I was helpless, you were about to kill me, I insulted you and you released me. Why?” “When you spat in my face,” Hazrat ‘Ali answered, “It aroused the anger of my ego. Had I killed you then it would not have been for the sake of Allah, but for the sake of my ego. I would have been a murderer. You are free to go.” The enemy warrior moved by the integrity displayed in Hazrat ‘Ali, converted to Islam on the spot.    Hadrat Ali knew that if he had killed the man on that moment, it would have been an association which will lead him to polytheism and which Allah does not forgive. “He who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin. “ (4:48)

It must not be Hazrat Ali or us or anyone who will kill, it must be Allah Himself. “And you did not kill them, but it was Allah who killed them. And you threw not, (O Muhammad, when you threw, but it was Allah who threw”   says Allah. La Qadirun, La Muridun, La ‘Allimun, La Hayyun, La Sami’un, La Basirun, La Mutakallimun fi Haqiqatillah. This is the tawhid of jihad which to me is the essential significant meaning of fi sabilillah.
I shall end up here now. If you find something enlightening in this paper, it is from Allah. If there are errors, it is from me. I have no knowledge except what Allah have taught me. “Peace!” a word from the Merciful Lord.

Mindanao Series - Bangsamoro Economic Development Plan

By Yolanda Ortega Stern

“The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on!”

Let us thank the Organization of Islamic Conference for taking quick action to move for damage control among the MNLF. Allowing wounds to fester never does any good. Let us also thank the Philippine Court for granting bail to MNLF Chairman Nur P. Misuari on a case that is entering its 7th year. As for settling scores among the men, Libya has offered its facilities.

The MILF-GRP negotiation is bleeding to death. There is no life saving apparatus but courage on the part of the government to decide one way or the other: either give Mindanao an autonomous Bangsamoro with protection for the Lumads and Christians or continue another century of armed struggle. The Regalian rule on Natural Resources in their territories should also be exempted. And plebiscites do not work to redress wrongs against a minority population.

What lies ahead now? What is possible today?

With Chairman Nur P. Misuari back at the helm of the MNLF, the reorganization of the Bangsamoro can now take place and the transition to a mainstream civilian vanguard must continue at a careful pace. With all the lessons learned from the past, it is possible to bring all the former leaders together to draw up a comprehensive economic development plan run by their private sector. This must be complimented by the ARMM with full implementation of the 1996 Peace Agreement. There are many highly qualified professionals, businessmen, educators, lawyers, doctors, nurses, teachers, overseas workers, who can contribute to the economic infrastructure of the region. They are waiting to be tapped by leaders they can trust, support and follow. The MNLF cannot succeed in isolation and only the deliberate move towards autonomy that integrates experience with goals will work for the long term.

Phase I of the Economic Plan should be concentrated on Agriculture and Fisheries. The majority of the Moslems and Lumads are farmers and fishermen. Traditional trade and counter-trade should be facilitated among the municipalities and baranggays by every means possible. With many nations in the OIC suffering from food shortages, the fertile soils and the rich waters of Mindanao can do contract growing and fishing for export to the hungry nations while benefitting the poor farmers and fishermen in the Bangsamoro. Food production is easier done in Mindanao than anywhere else on earth. With help from the OIC, it can grow enough food to supply the 17 African States in the OIC alone. The cooperation of the Christians and the Lumads is necessary so lands can be pooled towards this effort. The OIC member states must lead the way in addressing poverty alleviation in the Bangsamoro by prioritizing the purchase and the placement of orders for food, fuel, as well as material aid. A mutually beneficial trade relation can begin tomorrow. There are men in the MNLF who are capable of organizing this today.

Phase II must address illiteracy. Education is paramount to progress. Major research on affluent nations shows a high degree of correlation to literacy. Bangsamoro citizens should become bilingual- bi-literate in Arabic as well as English. Scholarships for other language capabilities particularly in French should be encouraged. The future major population of the world will be centered in Africa. Seventeen of the 57 member States of the OIC are African with French as the principal dialect. A student exchange program must be immediately implemented between the Bangsamoro and the OIC nations with help from the brothers at DepEd.

Phase III A Bangsamoro Credit Union or a Bangsamoro Bank must be immediately established. The prominent members of the MNLF to include the so-called Council of 15 who deposed Misuari, should lead the establishment of this economic institution and embark on a training program to teach the citizens money management, taxes, and business planning. The lack of a people’s bank to service micro-finance and to jumpstart entrepreneurs will become a major roadblock to progress because the majority of the people today cannot qualify for standard micro-finance. This challenge can be capitalized by 100 willing investors at P1 million apiece with branches in Cotabato, Jolo, Basilan, Lanao, Davao, Marawi, Tawi Tawi and Zamboanga. There are many Moslems who can afford to do this today. Even ARMM can leverage such a deal. So it may be prudent to postpone the ARMM elections until the GRP-MNLF-MILF negotiations are completed so that Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan’s projects are not left on the lurch. Giving the Bangsamoro economic empowerment cannot be done without money. Leaving only those with money to push a common goal in isolation from the people will not work. Everyone must get involved.

Phase IV Behavior Modification is a must. Are the Philippine Government and all local governments so corrupt that nothing can be accomplished? Doesn’t it follow that if all national and local governments are so corrupt that the people are corrupt? I say this, not to start an argument but to let Filipinos, Moslems, Christians, and Lumads look at themselves in the mirror and think. Actions speak louder than words. The people must start by supporting only constructive actions and move on with good behavior, and with the right company.On the positive side, the Philippines today is 30 years ahead of Cambodia, and about 300 years ahead of some African nations. Travel around Southeast Asia, Africa and even parts of the USA and Europe for an extended time and you will be very glad to be back in the Philippines. Our dive sites are competitive if not better than most of the Caribbean Resorts. Our fruits and fish are as tasty as the imported varieties that we so covet. Our weather is idyllic, our countryside so lush, our culture so saturated in tradition. Our Lumads can boast similarities to our neighboring lumads. Our democracy gives us freer speech/song than some of our neighbors enjoy today.

So is the Bangsamoro better off today? The answer is NO. But to quote Ambassador Al Masry of the OIC –“ there is light at the end of the tunnel”.

As Malaysia withdraws its IMT from Mindanao and another nation takes over the role of Mediator, some are worried. But if Malaysia was frustrated by their role, can anyone else do better? Today’s conditions are different. The actors have changed. A new generation is rising. Can the old voices meet the new voices halfway and come to an understanding? The exchange of perceptions is crucial to the future of Mindanao. At the end of the day, at the conclusion of all conferences, at the end of every prayer, the exchange of perceptions keeps people and common visions clear.

MNLF Leadership: Is Misuari stubborn and incapable of listening as he is often accused of? Is he too dictatorial and unwilling to bend and forgive? Is he a failure as a leader of men? Is he as corrupt and as inept as some claim President Arroyo to be? Is he isolating himself from the people while he has been incarcerated for six years? Is he hiding millions of dollars in hidden accounts in Malaysia and Washington D.C. as the stories go? Criticisms are a form of feedback. All leaders must make feedback a necessary tool for self evaluation. There should be a Feedback Box for every leader, provided the backgrounds of the critics are known. Not only is feedback helpful, it gives great opportunity to judge the critics on the things they do not say. Behind the spine of every criticism often lies the answer to the riddle. A workshop on constructive criticism must be required of all self appointed as well as paid critics. The right response, the right feedback, can even smoke out anonymous critics.

In all the years that I have commiserated with Prof. Misuari, I have not felt I could not be honest with my thoughts. Our professional exchanges have included contentious topics, no holds barred. I have never felt compelled to share my thoughts anonymously. I have never seen him disparage another privately or publicly, not even his critics. My children and family have all come to respect him. Neither have I ever felt the urge to say anything behind his back that I would not say to his face. This attitude has served me well among my peers. I believe in shared perceptions among people, especially among peers of different opinions and even religions. That’s how changes come about. And yes, I have asked him about the rumors, and have been satisfied by his responses.

The MNLF internal struggle pains Misuari as much as it pains others. There is no question that the internal rift is there. Blaming it on Misuari alone does not make matters better. Attacking his supporters will not help. But internal matters must be dealt with at an open round table in the presence of all the figures central to the organization. There must be Honor, Integrity, Transparency, Courage and Humility (HITCH) in the actions of men so integral to the heart of an organized struggle. The mediator to this rift must be IMPARTIAL and must bear no animosity or prejudice towards one or the other side. The mediation cannot squeeze the Philippine government or ARMM “between the devil and the deep blue sea”. The MNLF must come up clean and there are many solutions. The “Council of 15” who recently voted Sema as their leader has much to contribute to the struggle. The truth is, based on the five topics being reviewed at the Joint Technical Working Group meetings, the MNLF today should reorganize into five compartments or branches: Economic; Religious; Political; Legal; Security. The Council of 15 could serve well, an Economic Department. They alone can capitalize the Bangsamoro Bank or Credit Union and manage trade and commerce in the regions. They can afford to travel, lobby, and run charitable foundations for poverty alleviation. They can put their money where their mouth is. They can use their worldwide connections to this end. They do not need anyone’s permission. But they cannot do this in isolation. The support of the Christians and Lumads in their areas are as vital to the advancement of the struggle as sun is to photosynthesis. Islamophobia can only be eradicated through inclusion and not by exclusion. Self sufficiency is power, and even the simplest of struggles cannot survive without it.

MNLF-MILF : There are media reports that Tripoli is stepping up to replace Malaysia and the IMT. What formula will Tripoli use to broker the unification of the MILF and the MNLF? What about Misuari and the “Council of 15”? Dr. Salem Edam, an expert on our Moslem Affairs, having been Libya’s ambassador in the Philippines for many years throughout many conflicts, is trying to bridge the divide. How does he help to regain unified loyalty among thousands of followers, some loyal to one camp, others made bitter by the divisions? Will he include the new generation of young adults and women that have joined the struggle? Why did Malaysia withdraw? Will Tripoli, too, be left frustrated?

The legacy of the leaders of Mindanao will be judged by the peace and the prosperity or the conflict that the leaders sow today. The next generation can harvest the fruits of a thriving environment or taste the bitter fruits of war and hopelessness. Until we can settle our differences amongst ourselves and peace and civilized conversation is no longer brokered, we have not matured into a self sufficient region.

I ask all the people of Mindanao to practice HITCH, one man, one woman, and one child at a time!

More US troops arriving in Mindanao - report

AL JACINTO, GMANews.TV
04/30/2008 | 10:50 AM

SULU, Philippines – More US troops are expected to arrive soon in the Philippines to support hundreds already deployed in the southern part of the country aiding Filipino troops in combating terrorism.

At least 30 soldiers, part of the Guam Army National Guard's 1st Battalion under the 294th Infantry Regiment, are heading to support the "Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines," the Guam-based Mariana's Variety newspaper reported Wednesday.

It said the soldiers will serve as security, at least for six months, for a unit of the Special Operations Command-Pacific that is conducting joint civilian-military operations and training with the Philippine military.

US soldiers deployed in the south are under the Joint Special Task-Philippines which is based in Zamboanga City, but its "area of operations," according to a US military publication, spans 8,000 square miles, covering the entire island of Mindanao and its surrounding islands and seas.

With various military facilities now being constructed for their use, members of the unit refer to their bases in Mindanao as "forward operating base-11" and "advanced operating base-921".

Though US and Philippine government officials have consistently claimed that the unit is not involved in actual combat, US troops themselves describe their mission as "unconventional warfare" and "counter-insurgency" operations in the country. US troops join Filipino soldiers on patrol, provide them with intelligence, and assist in various aspects of their operation.

American soldiers are also active in many development and humanitarian activities in the southern Philippines, especially in Sulu province where they built roads and schools and join medical missions with local troops and provincial government mostly in poor areas.

The humanitarian missions is part of the Balikatan, which means "shoulder-to-shoulder," an annual Philippine and US bilateral military humanitarian assistance and training activity.

Sulu Governor Sakur Tan said the humanitarian missions helped many poor families in the province.

Just earlier this year, about 600 US troops worked with civilian authorities and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in various humanitarian projects that included free medical, dental and veterinary care in Sulu province and also in central and Western part of Mindanao.

US and Philippine soldiers, many of them construction engineers, built schools and other community infrastructures in those areas.

In 2006, the United States Navy hospital ship Mercy had treated more than 60,000 mostly poor Filipino patients in separate medical missions in Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi islands, including Zamboanga City, as part of the Project Bayanihan. - GMANews.TV

"Extinct" Pygmy Elephants Found Living on Borneo

John Roach
for National Geographic News
April 23, 2008

A gift exchange between Asian rulers several centuries ago may have inadvertently saved a population of elephants from extinction, according to a new study.

Today a small population of unusually placid and genetically distinct elephants lives in the northeast corner of Borneo, a Southeast Asian island shared by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei (see map).

Scientists have long wondered why the elephants' range is so restricted and why they are less aggressive than other wild elephants in Asia.

The new research suggests the elephants may have descended from a population of elephants that originally lived on the island of Java in what is now Indonesia (see Indonesia map).

The finding is based on an analysis of archaeological and historical records. It supports a long-held local belief that the elephants arrived there from the island of Sulu, which is now part of the Philippines.

The sultan of Java is thought to have sent the Javan elephants as a gift to the sultan of Sulu. For unknown reasons, descendants of the elephants were subsequently shipped to Borneo and abandoned.

Back on Java, the original population went extinct by the end of the 18th century, after the arrival of Europeans in Southeast Asia.

The gift to the sultan of Sulu may therefore have inadvertently kept the lineage alive.

"There's a lot of literature on these exchanges between the different courts," said Michael Stuewe, an elephant biologist for WWF, an international conservation organization.

"These elephants may be the oldest example of a wild [mammal] population that is saved without intention to do so by royalty and through a captive detour," Stuewe said.

DNA and Archaeology

Stuewe was not an author of the new study, but he was part of the research team that showed the Bornean elephants to be a genetically distinct population of Asian elephants.

He began studying them in 1999 as part of a project to determine how to protect wildlife from the rapid conversion of Southeast Asian forest habitat into palm oil plantations.

He noticed then that the elephants were unusual—shorter and rounder than other Asian elephants and with longer tails.

"They were like little cartoon figures of an elephant," he said.

(See photos of pygmy elephants and the threats facing them.)

His colleagues at Columbia University in New York conducted DNA analysis in 2003 and found the Bornean population to be genetically distinct.

The team concluded the elephants were likely isolated on the island when the last land bridges connecting Borneo to the mainland disappeared some 18,000 years ago.

WWF's Junaidi Payne was a co-author of the genetics study and the new paper.

He and co-authors Earl of Cranbrook and Charles M.U. Leh were unable to find archaeological or historical evidence confirming the existence of so-called pygmy elephants on Borneo beyond a few centuries.

They concluded that the most plausible explanation is the Bornean elephant population "consists of remnant survivors of the extinct Javan population."

The study, the authors add, raises the importance of the Bornean population and suggests other large mammals could be saved from extinction by removal from threatened habitat to safer locations.

(Related: Borneo Elephants: From Pest to Priority [September 4, 2003])

The research was published last week in the Sarawak Museum Journal.

Palm Oil Threat

Simon Hedges is the Asian elephant coordinator for the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society.

He said the new study makes a "plausible case" that the Bornean population is descended from the Javan elephants but that more research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.

If the authors of the new study are correct, he added, the remnant Javan population on Borneo will be important for genetic reasons, since it would contain material thought lost from the gene pool.

However, the population will likely be given less of a conservation priority, since it is outside its original wild range.

"[Such] factors are generally seen as downgrading the importance of such populations versus the truly wild animals," he said.

WWF's Stuewe noted that if the finding is confirmed, it will mark another instance in which royalty had inadvertently saved a mammal from extinction.

A similar fate met the alpine ibex, a mountain goat whose remaining population was protected by an Italian king in the 1850s, captive-bred by the Swiss, and reintroduced throughout the Alps in the 1900s.

European royalty imported Przewalski horses from Mongolia in the early 20th century for their stables. The wild horses went extinct in the 1960s. European captives were reintroduced to Mongolia in 1992.

"The ability of these large charismatic mammals to recover from what seem to be extreme [population] bottlenecks apparently is there," Stuewe said.

"There is a chance for these guys if you take care of them."

Palm Oil Threat

Today, Stuewe added, the elephants face new challenges from the rapidly developing palm oil industry in northeastern Borneo, where the remnant population is located.

Driven by surging demand from the biofuels industry, Stuewe said the forest is being converted to palm oil plantations at increasing rates.

"And unfortunately," he said, "oil palm plantations are to elephants what a candy store is to little kids—they just love them."

The love, however, is not shared by plantation managers who view the elephants as a nuisance and kill them. Biologists estimate about a thousand elephants remain on Borneo.

The only hope for these elephants now is protection of the lowland forest as nature reserves or sustainably managed logging concessions, Stuewe said.

Hedges, of the Wildlife Conservation Society, noted the palm oil expansion threatens a host of species on Borneo.

"One ultimately hopes that some of the expansions of the oil palm industry are going to be controlled and done in an appropriate way so that the whole suite of species at risk isn't wiped out," he said.

The Pearl of Allah

By Wilburn Dowell Cobb

The giant clam yielded its treasure only after slaying a native diver trapped when its great jaws snapped shut. Worshipped as the gift of Allah, the 14-pound pearl was finally presented to the author by a Mohammedan chief whose son he saved from death.

-----

MY companions and I were in a little fishing village in the outer reaches of the Philippine Islands when news reached us of the discovery of a giant pearl, which today is the largest specimen in the world.

We had pitched camp on the seventh day of May, 1934, and that night after supper we stretched out on our cots in anticipation of a good night’s rest. I was practically asleep when suddenly pandemonium broke loose in the primitive huts of the Dyak tribe in whose fishing territory we had undertaken archaeological excavations. It seemed that every native in the village was screaming at the top of his voice, singing the quaint funeral dirge of the Dyak people. I shoved my automatic in my pocket and went out to investigate.

In the nearest shack I found “Capitan” Popong, an old Dyak who had been my guide on an investigation in the same region two years ago. It was I who had given him the title of “Capitan,” and today no Dvak would ever dare address him by any name other than this. We sat on the floor, and I asked him to tell me the reasons for the wailings and the dirge.

At first he was reluctant, but eventually I learned that his son, who was chief of the tribe, had brought his hungry people only a few days ago to fish in these waters. Bogtong, the young chief, had immediately organized the best divers of the tribe in an expedition to collect conch shells, which they would trade for the fishing implements they so badly needed.

Toward noon, the old man recounted, Bogtong had realized that he had missed Etem, one of his assistants, on the last three dives. All the men were alarmed. Suspecting a giant octopus, they unsheathed their knives and, as one, dove down in search of their missing comrade.

On the fourth dive they found Etem already dead. In his search for conch shells, he had failed to see the giant Tridacna clam which was partly hidden by coral rocks, its huge jaws held open ready to clamp shut with the strength of a hear trap. Etem accidentally got his hand between the shells, which snapped shut, and thus he met his death. With the aid of ropes, the men hoisted their dead comrade and his deep-sea murderer into one of the canoes.

In this locality a death must be fully and satisfactorily explained to the authorities. Bogtong knew there was but one thing to do and that was to take the boy just as they had found him with his left hand still in the grip of the giant shell to Panglima Pisi, the Mohammedan chief, who acts as the local notary public. There they would ask their old friend to sign an affidavit describing the death of the boy and absolving his six companions from any blame.

After three hours of hard paddling they reached the mouth of Boligay Creek, where they turned and headed for the little bamboo bridge just below the road leading to the Panglima’s house. After being welcomed with the usual formal greetings, Bogtong explained his mission to the old man. Offering a cigar to Bogtong and lighting one himself, the Panglima asked to be shown the body.

THE AUTHOR shown holding the fluted “jaws” of the huge Tridacna clam which took the life of a native diver and yielded the world’s largest pearl. It is not unusual for a diver to be caught in the jaws of one of these giant clams, which clamp shut with the suddenness and strength of a bear trap, leaving him helpless to drown.

The scene that greeted the old man’s eyes at the creek reminded him sadly of his younger days, when he was the owner of the largest pearl fishing fleet in the Sulu Sea. He told the young men of two similar accidents that had happened in his own fleet and how he had hoped to be spared the sight of another such disaster. Motioning for Bogtong to follow, he led the way to the house.

When the old Panglima had finished writing, he folded one of the copies and handed it to Bogtong. Bogtong thanked the old man and asked him if he might leave a canoe-load of the conch shells for the service rendered. Smiling one of his rare smiles, the old man said, "You may leave me the conch shells if you wish, but please give me the giant clam that caused the death of your companion. I would like to keep it here on my porch to remind me of my pearl fishing days."

At this point in his tale, Capitan Popong fell silent for a moment, then continued:

“About two hours ago as they returned here in their canoes, they saw the light of a strange lamp in the center of the village. Bogtong motioned for silence. He thought it might be that the tax collectors had come on their annual rounds. Leaving his men with their conch-filled canoes hidden in the shadows along the shore, he crept close to the strange tent. Then he gave a sigh of relief, for he recognized your features, my friend. He was one of the men who helped you pull your motor launch free from the sand bar when you were stuck on the Iwahig River two years ago.

Dyak dirge

“Bogtong ran back for his men, sent one of them for me, and I joined the boys at their task. Five of them gently lifted the dead Etem in their arms, and with Bogtong holding a torch and leading the way, they laid the body in Bogtong’s shack. Then my son, after telling me the story of their sad trip, picked up the old buffalo horn and blew on it the long-drawn-out death call of our tribe.”

Startled out of their sleep, the cabins had come to life one by one. Frightened, anguished faces filled the door of the hut where the body lay. At the sight of the drowned boy, the whole tribe broke out into the mournful prayer and wailing for the drowned.

“This, my friend, is the bedlam that awakened you. We will keep praying until sunrise, and then again until sunset, and yet again—for three nights. Because if we do not, the devils of the sea will keep Etem’s soul forever.”

Saddened by the tale, I watched them bury Etem the next morning under the shade of a coconut tree. His grave was fenced in with strong bamboo stakes to keep the wild boar and other scavengers from disturbing it. After harvesting the rice here in the lowlands, the tribe would come back for the remains of Etem, which would then be carried back to their mountain home and there buried properly.

I was very anxious to see the giant clam that had killed a man, so after the three nights of praying and wailing I asked Bogtong to guide me to Panglima Pisi’s home at Boligay. And that afternoon, after leaving Capitan Popong in charge of my party, Bogtong and I set out for Boligay.

PANGLIMA Pisi, the Mohammedan chief who first owned the pearl. He saw in its shape a resemblance to Mohammed and out of religious veneration refused to sell it.

The sacred pearl

Nearing the Panglima’s house, we were greeted by sounds that seemed to be the climax of some Mohammedan celebration. Mingled with the beating of gongs could be heard the singing of women, while the men, who must have lost their voices because of incessant shouting, were doing the spear dance to the rhythm of the brass gongs. I knew it would be dangerous for a Christian to venture forth while such a celebration was in progress, so I sent the young chief ahead to investigate. He was gone for about two hours. It was late in the evening when he returned with the story of the celebration.

It appeared that when they left the giant clam on the Panglima’s porch a few days before, a strange incident had occurred. As the aged Mohammedan chief watched his men remove the meat from the shell, he suddenly saw an enormous pearl. Seizing it in his hands, he examined the surface and discerned the image of a turbaned face, formed by nature on one of the sides. In this image the Panglima was startled to discover a resemblance to Mohammed. Then as his excited servants stood in awe, the old man prostrated himself before the pearl and began to pray. It was this act of religious devotion that incited the frenzied celebration throughout the whole tribe which we were now witnessing.

Having at first merely expected to see a clam that had killed a man, you may imagine my eagerness to glimpse the pearl that it contained, with the image of a turbaned face. I never dreamed how big it might be. But Bogtong restrained me from going into the midst of the celebration. He suggested that I let him keep an eye on the settlement, and he would let me know when it would be safe to approach the Panglima. I agreed to this and we returned to our camp.

About two weeks later Bogtong presented himself in my tent. He was ready to take me to Boligay, the celebrations having subsided and the Mohammedan having returned to their usual daily chores. Upon arriving at the Panglima’s house, I found preparations had been made for me to pay him a prolonged visit. The etiquette of the Mohammedan people would prevent me from talking business until four days of festive hospitality had passed.

It was in the early afternoon of the fourth day of my visit, while having tea with the family, that I asked to be shown the pearl. The Panglima called an attendant, who came out and laid the pearl before us on the table. When I first saw the pearl I could hardly believe my eyes. There on the table in front of us lay the largest pearl ever beheld by human eyes. The gigantic gem weighed fourteen pounds, one ounce. It was nine and a half inches long and five and a half inches in diameter, and glowed with a highly reflective, satiny sheen. Two more attendants entered, carrying the half of the shell in which the pearl was found, and the old Panglima laid the pearl in its former bed. It seemed as though I were looking at a pearl that might have been taken from the pages of the Arabian Nights.

I asked my host to name his price, but was kindly but firmly told that the pearl was not for sale. Smilingly, the Panglima said, “It would be a sacrilege for me to part with this pearl. A pearl with the image of Mohammed, the Prophet of Allah, is earned by devotion, by sacrifice, not bought with money. I may not be a millionaire but I defy the richest man in the world today to show me a similar pearl. Please excuse my words, my friend, but the satisfaction of owning the largest of all pearls is to me worth more than mere money.”

THE SON AND HEIR of the Mohammedan chief surrounded by attendants. When author Cobb cured the boy of malaria, the chief pressed upon him the sacred pearl as reward.

I was disappointed at not being able to purchase the pearl. Still, I could not help but admire the old Panglima’s logic. We bade farewell then, and soon after I prepared for my return to Manila.

Two years passed. I had long been away from the Panglima’s land. The giant pearl had not passed from my mind, but I remembered it now only as a fabulous experience I had once had which survived in my tales to friends. Sometimes I was piqued because I could see that my audience did not believe the gem to be as beautiful, as large, and as mysterious as I tried to depict it, and then the old longing to possess it came over me.

But on this April day in 1936, I was not thinking of the pearl. I was celebrating my birthday with my brothers in our home in Manila, wondering where I would spend my vacation during the hot season, when a postman arrived with a letter. It was from Bogtong—no doubt written for him by some village school teacher—telling me of the discovery of an ancient burial ground located just south of Panglima Pisi’s residence. This seemed the answer to my vacation plans and I prepared to leave for Boligay Creek immediately.

I had hardly arrived and was in the midst of preparing to start my digging, when Bogtong came to visit me. He said in a very excited manner that Pula, the Panglima’s son, was mortally stricken with malaria and that he wished my help. Leaving the party in charge of my head boy and giving Bogtong my first-aid kit to carry, we hurried to the old Panglima’s residence.

We were met on the porch by the Panglima himself, who with tears in his eyes led us into the room where the boy lay. Looking at Pula, I hardly recognized him. He lay in what I thought to be an unconscious state, but he was aware of our entry, for opening sunken, staring eyes, his face a ghastly greenish yellow, he said, “Mr. Cobb, help, please help me. I am dying!”

I felt the boy’s forehead and pulse. He was burning with a severe malarial fever, a type very often mistaken for the dreaded blackwater fever. Leaving Bogtong with the sick boy, I asked the Panglima to step outside with me.

Confronting the heart-broken father, I gave him the bare facts of the case, and told him that if they were to continue the old quinine treatment, the boy would be dead inside of a week. There was only one remedy known to science that would cure such an advanced case of the disease, and that was the drug atabrine.

“But where will you get this atabrine?” cried the old man. “My son would be dead before we could have it sent from Manila.” I relieved him with the information that I had a large quantity of the compound with me. Hearing this, the Panglima knelt and pleaded with me, saying that he would give me anything he owned if only I would help his beloved son.

Assisting him to rise from his knees, I promised aid on the condition that I would be given a free hand and would not be interfered with by any of his local medicine men. With a smile of hope on his face, the old man agreed to my terms and went into the sick boy’s room.

An attendant showed me into my quarters. I told him that Bogtong would be my assistant and asked him to bring the young chief to me. As he left my room, I realized into what a predicament I had plunged myself. If Pula were to die after I had so much as touched him with the tips of my fingers, my death was assured. These Mohammedans would kill me, thinking, of course, that I had been responsible for his death. However, I had already given my word, so it was too late to change it. I decided to go ahead with the treatment, hoping the boy was not so far gone as to be beyond help.

SHOWN IN THE FULL LUSTER of its natural sheen, the world’s largest pearl is compared to one on an expensive jeweler’s ring.

About seven that evening the periodic fever of my patient had subsided a little, but he was still too weak to take atabrine by mouth, so I gave the doses by intramuscular injections. We took turns watching the boy day and night. For four days he seemed to hover between life and death. But on the fifth day the fever abated and from then on he steadily improved. The fever had burned him to skin and bones, and he was still helplessly weak. I had to devise some way of helping him to recover his strength, so I ordered him to be carried to the sea in front of his house for a daily three-minute dip. At first he seemed exhausted by this routine, and I could feel the strong though silent disapproval of the Panglima. But I persisted, and my luck held, for with this daily stimulant, Pula began to look more like himself. Finally he was able to join Bogtong and me in fishing and hunting, perfectly restored. Later they both took an interest in my digging and often joined me at the site.

But at length my work drew to a close. My patient was well again, and nothing could hold me longer with my pleasant friends. At dinner that night I announced that I must return to Manila. They all expressed sorrow at losing me, and the Panglima asked me how much he owed me for treating his son. I told him that he did not owe me anything, that he was my friend, and so was his son, and to me the continued friendship of the entire family was compensation enough. This surprised the old chief, and he became silent. He called an attendant and whispered something to him. The man left the room and a few minutes later returned holding the largest pearl in the world in his hands. He placed it in front of the old man.

The Panglima speaks

The Panglima laid his hand on the pearl and said, “Mr. Cobb, one week before you came, I knew that my son was mortally ill. I have seen so many of my tribe die of the disease, I was terrified. Quinine, the only remedy that we know, did not seem to do any good. I was helpless, I did not know what to do. That night, holding this pearl in my hands, I prayed to Allah for help. In my prayers I vowed to Allah that however much I valued this pearl I would willingly give it to anyone that he could send to help me save my son. As though to test my sincerity, you came.

“I remembered that two years ago you tried to buy the pearl. I wondered then if you were the man that would save my son from his affliction, but you were a Christian, and it hardly seemed possible. Then I took you to the sick boy’s room, and when Pula, who had been delirious for three days, saw you, recognized you and asked you to help, I thought that you might be the one.

“Well, my friend, you saved my son’s life. Mr. Cobb, we are just on the outskirts of the jungle, where generally life is bought with life. This pearl was dearly paid for with the life of a young man. Now you have bought the pearl from me with the life of my only son as your payment. What more could a father ask? You have saved my son, and you have earned your reward. Here, my friend, claim this, your pearl.”

Today the pearl is on display at Ripley’s exhibit on Broadway, where it may be seen for perhaps a month longer.

CENTURIES of growth in this clam shell matrix may have been required before the pearl could reach its unprecedented size. Here is another of Nature’s masterpieces which Man for all his laboratory cleverness can never match.

A remarkable specimen

As Dr. Roy Waldo Miner of the American Museum, who has examined it, explained, this specimen, while so many times larger than any of the pearls we are familiar with, can be truly called a pearl. It was formed on the inside of a shell as all pearls are, presumably by some foreign body being imbedded in the shell material, perhaps when the shell clamped suddenly shut. The natives who found it, who are keen observers of natural history and have good opportunity as pearl divers to observe undersea life, believe that the foreign body which started the pearl growing was probably a small piece of brain coral. Some such origin as this is not contradictory to what is known about the formation of pearls. Where it was joined to the clam shell the successive layers can be seen in cross section.

As in any pearl, the surface appearance of this one gets its quality from the inner layer of the clam shell that was its host. The color of this giant pearl is pure lustrous white.

No one can say how old the pearl may be, for, as Doctor Miner points out, no scientific study has yet accurately determined the rate of growth of one of these giant clams. The natives thought that possibly 450 years had passed since the clam was the size of a fist, and that the pearl may have started growth when the clam was 100 years old.

That such a phenomenal pearl should have been found is surely exciting enough, but I constantly wonder over the strange coincidence that the clam which produced it should have taken the life of a native diver and that, even in a part of the world that is surrounded with so much romance and mystery, its story should also have been so remarkably connected with the saving of another life.

World Earth Day: Sulu Joins Coastal Clean-Up Campaign

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / April 1, 008) – Muslim villagers joined US and Filipino troops in a coastal clean-up campaign during the World Earth Day celebration Monday in the southern province of Sulu.

Elzadia Washington, of the United States Agency for International Development, who visited Sulu province, also joined the clean-up drive in the village of Mauboh in Patikul town. Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan led the locals in the campaign.

“We are happy that people are active in caring for their environment and we will sustain this effort to ensure Sulu remains a beautiful place in this part of the country,” Tan told reporters.

Filipino marines and US troops headed by Col. Bill Coultrup joined in picking up pieces of garbage left by tides on the beach. “Along this, we are all reminded of our responsibilities, which extend beyond our own backyards. This clean-up campaign demonstrates oneness among stakeholders in caring for the waters not just in Sulu, but in fact everywhere in the world,” Marine commander Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban said.

“Every day should be coastal clean-up. And cleaning the coast through picking up garbage is the least that we can do. By giving Mother Earth a totally healthy environment, we are also acting upon our moral duty for the people we both serve and hold dear,” he said.

Washington said she is happy by the active participation of the province in the World Earth Day celebration. “Protecting the environment is important and crucial towards the progress of the nation. If environment is not protected, concerns in security may arise,” she said.

She also toured different places in Sulu and went with Tan to the Mount Datu where Washington viewed the whole of Jolo and nearby towns. Washington was all praised to the beauty of Sulu, from its pristine beaches to unspoiled jungle and friendly people. “The people are great and friendly and the place is magnificent,” she said.

Tan said the Mount Datu one of many eco-tourism sites in Sulu and a favourite among nature lovers and trekkers. While the Sulu Sea is one of the richest fishing grounds in the Philippines. “We have very beautiful places in Sulu and we are working hard to promote these places,” he said.

The Tubbataha Reef is the best known site in the Sulu Sea for its 81,000 acres of corals. It is also considered the world's best dive spot for underwater adventure. The pearls from the Sulu Archipelago are among the finest in the world, Tan said. (With reports from Nickee Butlangan and Arthur Abasalo)

The Price of Twenty Pence

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem Several years ago an imaam moved to London. He often took the bus from his home to the downtown area. Some weeks after he arrived, he had occasion to ride the same bus. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him twenty pence too much change. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, 'you better give the twenty pence back. It would be wrong to keep it'. Then he thought, 'oh forget it, it's only twenty pence. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company already gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a gift from Almighty Allah and keep quiet'. When his stop came, the Imaam paused momentarily at the door, then he handed the twenty pence back to the driver and said: "Here, you gave me too much change." The driver with a smile replied: "Aren't you the new Imaam in this area? I have been thinking lately about going to worship at your mosque. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change." When the Imaam stepped off the bus, his knees became weak and soft. He had to grab the nearest light pole and held for support, and looked up to the heavens and cried: "Oh Allah, I almost sold Islam for twenty pence!" Bottom-line: We may never see the impact our actions have on people... Sometimes we may be the only Islam a non-Muslim will see. Let us be an example for others to see. Be careful and be honest everyday, because you never know who is watching your actions. O Allah! Guide us, make our intentions sincere, accept our deeds, answer our prayers, and make us of those who are patient. al-Fatiha...

ORIGIN OF THE ELEPHANTS ELEPHAS MAXIMUS L. OF BORNEO

Introduction

Under Elephas indicus, the Sarawak Museum register (p. 350) records a past holding of two skulls, without tusks, of the Asiatic elephant (now Elephas maximus) collected in North Borneo by H.H. the Rajah and H. W. Crocker, respectively, together with three isolated molars without provenance, and the disarticulated skeleton and mounted skin of a juvenile male from South China. Notes on the opposite page refer to a fossil molar found in a cave at Bau by a former Curator [R.W.C.] Shelford which, on 22 Sep. 1926, could not be located by a later Curator, E. Banks, but was subsequently found (“in Mus.”) on 24 Dec. 1929 (Appendix A). Unfortunately, none of these specimens is any longer present in the Museum.

The earliest written record of elephants. in Borneo was also the first reported European contact. When, in 1521, the remnants of Magellan’s Spanish-backed circumnavigation reached Brunei, the chronicler of the voyage, Antonio Pigafetta, recounted that the delegation from the flagship Victoria was conveyed to and from the ruler’s palace on elephants caparisoned in silk (Stanley of Alderly, 1874: 110 – 117, quoted by Bastin & Winks, 1966: 38 - 42; Harrisson & Harrisson, 1971: 29-30; Nichols, 1975). This custom had been discontinued by the time later visitors reported on their experiences of Brunei: neither Forrest in the 1770s (Forrest, 1780) nor James Brooke and his companions in the 1840s (Mundy, 1848) saw elephants at the royal court. At the other extremity of Borneo, Knapen (2001), quoting Groeneveldt (1880) and Schwaner (1853-54), stated that, according to a Chinese source, the sultan of Banjarmasin used to ride an elephant. The origin of these royal elephants was not explained.

The read the full 25-page report, please download the PDF file here.

A letter to World Wildlife Fund

April 18, 2008

Carter S. Roberts, President
World Wildlife Fund
1250 Twenty-Fourth St., N.W.
Box 97180
Washington, DC 20090-7180

RE: Sulu and Pygmy Elephants

Dear Mr. Roberts,

We are so pleased to learn that the Sultan of Sulu initiated such an important finding as that two elephants, if left alone, can generate thousands of offspring. This is optimistic news for our planet.

Esmail Dalus Kiram, II, Reigning Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo, vigorously promotes responsible human behavior with respect to the living beings in his domain. As Prince and Special Representative to America, one of my assignments is to be in contact with like-minded people.

As a medical doctor, I am a novice at wildlife questions; but in my stays in Sulu and North Borneo I have become convinced there are some unique animal species, particularly marine, in the area. If you have researchers who wish to penetrate the area, I can assign people to help them.

The best way to reach me is via email or my mobile, 510-331-7826. Perhaps there is some way we can be of use to your organization. So that people can learn more about the fascinating history of the second oldest royal house on earth, following only our cousin, the Sultan of Brunei. please link our website to yours: www.SultanofSulu.org

Sincerely yours,

Tom Stern, MD