Residents of Pattimura in Ambon, Maluku have surrendered large amounts of weaponry to the authorities.

The Regional Military Command (Kodam) XVI Pattimura took in about 170 guns of varying types, mostly homemade, about a thousand rounds of ammunition, and 18 homemade bombs.

Major Paiman said that the handing-in of weapons was further proof that the situation in Maluku was now safe. Residents had become aware that open-ended conflicts had only negative results for their lives, he said.

However he added that there was likely still many people who kept weapons hidden at home and urged such people to surrender them.