11 May 2005

Dozens injured in clash in Indonesia's Papua province

8:16 pm on 11 May 2005

Dozens of people in the Indonesian province of Papua have been injured in clashes after the trial of two separatists.

The violence began when hundreds of independence supporters blocked the main entrance gate of Jayapura District Court where the two separatist leaders were on trial for raising the Papuan independence flag.

Indonesia has banned the raising of the flag.

At the end of previous trials the men had been allowed to speak to the crowd but this time they were taken straight back to prison.

The angry crowd threw rocks and bottles at police who fought back with batons.

Philep Karma and Yusak Pakage face up to five years in jail for raising the flag last December.