Pacific

Tear gas fired at West Papua protest in Jakarta

08:43 am on 2 December 2015

Papuan pro-independence demonstrators stage a protest in Jakarta on December 1, 2015. Photo: ROMEO GACAD / AFP

Police have fired tear gas during a protest in Jakarta against Indonesian rule over the eastern region of Papua.

Several hundred protesters, mostly university students from Papua, took part in the demonstration to mark the anniversary of the region's declaration of independence in 1961, two years before Indonesia took control.

About 400 police in riot gear were standing guard at the protest in downtown Jakarta, which turned violent as demonstrators threw rocks and police responded by firing tear gas and chasing protesters.

There are reports more than 100 demonstrators were detained.

Papuan pro-independence demonstrators stage a protest while police (L) armed with tear gas guns take position in Jakarta on December 1, 2015. Photo: ROMEO GACAD / AFP