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.