Ambon 7.28

Ambon is the main city and seaport of Ambon Island, and is the capital of Maluku province of Indonesia. This city is also known as "Ambon Manise," which means "beautiful" or "pretty". Ambon is the largest city in the Maluku islands and is the centre of the Maluku archipelago. The city is divided into 5 districts namely Nusaniwe, Sirimau, Ambon Bay, Gulf Baguala and South Leitimur.The city is populated by a mix of ethnic Alifuru, Javanese, Balinese, Butonese, Bugis, Makassar, Papuan, Minahasa, Minang, Flobamora and those of foreign descent . Between 1999 and 2002, there was social unrest motivated by racial intoleranceHistoryColonial eraAmbon was colonized by Portugal in 1526 and originally named Nossa Senhora de Anunciada, founded by Portuguese-Moluccan Governor Sancho de Vasconcelos. The Portuguese were driven out by the Dutch in 1609. Except for brief periods of British rule, the island remained under Dutch control until Indonesia's independence in 1945.During the Dutch period, Ambon was the seat of the Dutch resident and military commander of the Maluku Islands. The town was protected by Fort Victoria, and a 1911 Encyclopædia characterized it as "a clean little town with wide streets, well planted". The population was divided into two classes, orang burger (citizens) and orang negri (villagers), the former being a class of native origin enjoying certain privileges conferred on their ancestors by the old Dutch East India Company. There were also, besides the Dutch, some Arabs, Chinese and a few Portuguese settlers.