Jakarta – Police in Jayapura, the capital of Irian Jaya province were seen beating defiant protesters on Saturday in an attempt to break up a demonstration which was held to protest themurder of proindependence figure Theys Hiyo Eluay.The protesters gathered outside the provincial legislative building, which was already tightly guarded by the police.

The police warned the protesters to disperse themselves due to the fact that they had not gotten a permit for the demonstration, Antara reported. "Now we are preparing for our Christmas celebration, and therefore I ask you all to disperse soon," Comr. Anton, the Jayapura deputy police chief said as quoted by Antara.

Some of the protesters then staged a prayer, but then an incident broke out in the Polimak area as reportedly some of the protesters resisted the police's order. Some of them were reportedly injured as police chased them and beat them up with sticks.

Separately, Irian Jaya Governor J.P. Salossa on Saturday expressed disappointment that President Megawati canceled her Christmas visit to the province. "In my heart I'm a bit disappointed ... but I can understand the reasons, because she (Megawati) is under the weather," he said.

In a bid to stem separatist tension, Jakarta recently handed the resource-rich territory of two million people greater powers to manage its own affairs. Megawati had planned to promote the package during her trip.

She has firmly ruled out independence for Irian Jaya, whose people for years have complained of human rights abuses by the army and resource exploitation from the central government.