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AKARTA, July 16 (AFP)-The Indonesian navy is deploying eight warships to help support the implementation of a state of civil emergency in the riot-torn Maluku islands, a report said Sunday. "There are now eight Indonesian navy warships, five in Maluku and three in North Maluku," the head of the marine security force of the eastern fleet, Vice Admiral Joko Sumaryono said, according to the Antara news agency. He said that for North Maluku, the scene of some of the worst sectarian violence between Muslims and Christians in the Malukus since last year, the navy has also deployed a Nomad aircraft for marine patrol. The violence has left more than 4,000 people dead in the past 18 months, with more than 100 people killed and hundreds wounded since June 21 in Ambon, the capital. The vessels are patrolling the waters of North Maluku and have already caught boats trying to smuggle weapons into the region, he said. Navy leaders have warned of the navy's determination to sink any vessel, which refuses to halt or resists naval searches. The navy said last month that they had caught 19 boats trying to smuggle weapons into the troubled islands, including one accompanied by a police officer. Thousands of weapons, including standard military firearms as well as makeshift guns and bombs, have been confiscated. Halmahera Island, in North Maluku province has been the scene of some of the worst violence. More than 2,000 people have been killed there. The upsurge in sectarian violence led the authorities to impose a state of civil emergency followed by a curfew in the provinces of Maluku and North Maluku on June 27. |
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