ICJ to hear Sipadan-Ligitan case

ICJ to hear Sipadan-Ligitan case

THE HAGUE (AFP): The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will
start public hearings here on Monday to determine if the
Philippines can intervene in a territorial dispute between
neighbors Malaysia and Indonesia.

Malaysia and Indonesia both claim sovereignty over the islands
of Pulau Ligitan and Pulau Sipadan, situated off the coast of
Sabah, on the island of Borneo.

The countries have agreed to allow the ICJ to decide who owns
the Celebes Sea islands.

Malaysia is expected to cite its ownership of Sabah as the
basis for its claim to the islands.

But the Philippines also lays claim to Sabah on the grounds
that it was ruled by a southern Philippine sultanate in the 15th
century.

The authorities in the Filipino capital Manila believe a
decision by the international court might affect the Philippines
claim to Sabah, which is why they are seeking to intervene in the
case.

The Sabah question has been an irritant in ties between Manila
and Kuala Lumpur ever since former Philippine president Diosdado
Macapagal revived a claim to the state when it became independent
and joined Malaysia in 1963.

The Philippines has never formally renounced its claim to
Sabah, although officials in Manila have said they will not allow
the dispute to disrupt bilateral relations.

Attempts by previous Philippine administrations to drop the
Sabah claim have been shot down by the senate and Kuala Lumpur-
Manila relations have been broken off twice because of the row.