Rallies in West Papua, planned by the National Committee for West Papua, or KNPB, are due to go ahead today in defiance of a police ban.
The rallies have been called to celebrate the International Day of Democracy, marked on September the 15th.
Joe Collins, from the Australian West Papua Association, says he is concerned for the peaceful protestors, after the crackdown on recent rallies such as one in May, where three people were killed and a large number arrested.
Mr Collins says peaceful rallies are a way the West Papuan people can bring attention to the human rights situation there and to the injustice they suffer under Indonesian rule.
He says it should be pointed out that the organisers of the rallies say they will be peaceful, and have urged that no sharp objects or alcohol are to be brought along.
A recent rally in Sorong, in support of the "Freedom Flotilla" that travelled from Australia to Indonesian waters, resulted in four arrests.
