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Ambon| Small island in Maluku, Republic of Indonesia; population (2000) 300,700. The island has an area of 813 sq km/314 sq mi. It lies in the Banda Sea and is mountainous, but with a fertile coastal plain which produces cloves, nutmeg, rice, sugar, and copra. The town of Ambon, formerly a historic centre of Dutch influence, has shipyards and is a port for trade in spices. Before social and political unrest erupted in 1999, it was a popular diving centre for tourists. |
| Under Portuguese and Dutch occupation during the colonial period, Ambon was the centre of the spice trade. During World War II it was captured by the Japanese, who treated the garrison abominably. Of the 809 Australian troops captured, over half were either murdered or allowed to die from starvation after torture. |
| Fresh violence broke out in 1999 between Muslims and Christians, and genocide and atrocities were widely reported. |
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