Jonathan Head, Ambon – One man has been killed and seven injured on the Indonesian island of Ambon after the security forces opened fire during renewed inter-religious fighting.

The clash broke out after two Muslim-owned houses were burnt down in the city of Ambon.

In Jakarta, a senior Indonesian military officer, Agus Wirahadikusumah, has warned that the armed forces no longer have sufficient resources to contain the unrest breaking out across the archipelago.

The latest outbreak of violernce came after two houses in a Muslim neighbourhood of Ambon were set ablaze by a home-made bomb. It should only have been a minor incident, but in today's highly charged atmosphere things quickly got out of control.

Swords and spears

Gangs of Muslim youths wearing white headbands and wielding swords and spears blocked the road to the airport. They were in an extremely emotional state, despite efforts by the army to calm them down. Just 50 metres away neighbouring Christians gathered, equally well-armed, wearing red headbands.

They attacked a car trying to get through their road block, smashing the windows and injuring a mother and child inside. The Christian youths then surged forward.

They were pushed back after the security forces let off a hail of gunfire. I saw one police officer lose control of himself and fire his revolver into the crowd. Several people were hit. One man's bleeding body was carried away by the by now hysterical Christian youths.

Conspiracy theories

It is impossible to understand where such violent emotions come from. Each side has its conspiracy theories involving sinister, well-funded forces from outside.

But the truth is that many of Ambon's young men seem to want to fight. During a recent so-called reconciliation meeting in a church one irate Christian demanded that the soldiers take off their uniforms and let the Ambonese finish the job themselves.

A police officer told me that morale was now very low throughout the armed forces. "We too are Christians and Muslims," he said, "how long will it be before we see divisions appear within our own ranks?" For now there is little the security forces can do in the face of such bitter religious hatred.

Thousands more Muslim immigrants are preparing to leave Ambon. Those staying behind say they are ready to fight to the death to defend themselves.