The ongoing hostilities in the Maluku Islands are getting worse. The Indonesian military was observed joining Muslims in battles with Christians in Ambon July 16. The development caused President Abdurrahman Wahid to consider seeking outside help to bring the unrest under control, a move that would relieve Christians but possibly enrage Muslims. The region is under a state of emergency giving the military and local officials more authority, but this is little comfort to Christians when soldiers take part in the fighting themselves.
