Indonesian military takes over security in Ambon

Col Budiman confirmed he was aware of a report that violence had broken out on Haruku Island as well, just east of Ambon, but declined to confirm reports that six people were killed there. “I can only confirm reports about violence erupting on Haruku Island, but I cannot get any confirmation about the fatalities,” he said by telephone.

Officials in the capital of Maluku province described the situation there as “totally crippled” as groups of warring residents rampaged through the streets with various crude weapons, including swords, home-made bombs and rifles.

Snipers firing from tall buildings forced many of the city’s residents to stay indoors. The official Antara news agency reported from Ambon, 2,300 km northeast of Jakarta, that up to 63 people have been killed in the last four days of sectarian clashes, the worst in a series of Muslim-Christian battles in the ravaged town.

But Col Budiman only confirmed 44 people, including a security officer, have died in the latest spasm of violence in Ambon. “I can only confirm to you that 34 Muslims, nine Christians and one security officer have been killed” since the violence broke out on Sunday afternoon, he said.

At least 150 others were injured while hundreds of homes, shops and other government and private offices have been torched. Eye-witnesses said gunfire from security forces could be heard sporadically throughout last night and early this morning. Explosions of home-made bombs could also be heard in Ambon’s Urimesing and Diponegoro neighbourhoods.

“Clashes are still going on between the two parties. Black smoke billowed from the burned homes, shops and other buildings,” one resident said by telephone. The latest round of violence broke out on Sunday evening after a bus driven by a Christian struck a Muslim youth, security officials said.