A fresh conflict erupted in Ambon, Maluku, last Sunday, 25 April 2004, after the Indonesian Police arrested Moses Tuannakota, secretary general of a banned separatist movement of the South Maluku Sovereignty Front, who previously chaired a meeting to mark the 54th anniversary of the Republic of South Maluku (RMS).

This arrest was followed by a rally of dozens of RMS supporters in front of the Maluku Police Headquarters. A group of people of anti separatist movement blocked the rally, which then triggered the conflict between the two groups. The incidents also happened in different parts of the city, which caused 14 people died, 107 injured, while some houses, a church, and a UN representative office were set ablaze.

The Indonesian government is determined to prevent this conflict from spreading through out the city of Ambon, and has sent reinforcement forces to take a firm action against the separatist movement of the Republic of South Maluku (RMS).