It's an internal problem. We are trying to solve the problem, but we have a very volatile situation right now. We need time to solve it. President Abdurrahman Wahid, a Muslim scholar who has long preached religious tolerance, has accused outside provocateurs of whipping up sectarian hatred. He has banned travel by outsiders to the region following reports that thousands of Islamic vigilantes from elsewhere in Indonesia have taken part in the fighting in Maluku.
Critics doubt Indonesia's poorly equipped and trained military can enforce the travel ban.
Despite this, the navy impounded 10 ships carrying machine guns, knives and poison arrows bound for the strife-torn region in the past few days, The Indonesian Observer newspaper reported yesterday. Admiral Adi Hariyono was quoted as saying he had ordered his forces to increase surveillance to stop weapons smuggling.