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Australia has approached the Indonesian government for permission to again hold Anzac Day remembrance celebrations for its war dead buried on Ambon in Maluku province.

The annual celebrations on April 25 that honor the war dead of both Australians and New Zealanders have not been held on the island since violence between Muslims and Christians left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands homeless throughout Maluku between 1999 and 2002.

Problems are compounded by the fact that the separatist group, the Republic of the South Moluccas (RMS), also marks its anniversary on April 25.

Australian Embassy spokesperson Sanchi Davis said on Friday that Australia was keen to re-start services at the Ambon War Cemetery in Kapahaha Tantui, where 1,092 Australian servicemen who perished in World War II were buried.

“We remain interested in recommencing the Anzac Day commemorative service in Ambon subject to approval from all relevant Indonesian authorities,” Sanchi said.

As well as Australians — and including soldiers who died as Japanese prisoners of war — about another 1,000 soldiers lay buried in the beautifully manicured cemetery, including 810 from the United Kingdom, 186 from the Netherlands, 30 from pre-partitioned India, two from Canada and one each from New Zealand and South Africa.

Ambon Mayor Jopi Papilaya said the town was ready to support the commemoration. “Security is not a problem for foreigners coming to Ambon now.”