“Don’t smuggle guns to Indonesia,’ ministry warns

BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand’s Foreign Ministry today warned the nation’s fishing fleet of the possible grave consequences of smuggling guns to Indonesia’s Maluku islands, where a sectarian conflict is raging. It said that the Thai embassy in Jakarta had informed the ministry that Indonesia’s Admiral Achmad Sutjipto had vowed to sink any ship found in the area with weapons destined for the Malukus. “The foreign ministry warns all Thai cargo ships or fishing trawlers about the Indonesian navy’s measures. If possible they should avoid the Malukus route,” the statement said. Violence between Muslims and Christians in the islands has left more than 4,000 people dead in the past 18 months, and driven more than half a million people from their homes. The Indonesian navy this week captured two boats illegally ferrying weapons to North Maluku province. Last Thursday it caught 17 boats trying to do the same.