Greg Poulgrain – Supporters of Papuan Governor Jacob Salossa have raised allegations of foul play over his sudden death last week. They are concerned that no autopsy was performed on the man who led Indonesia's easternmost province for five years.

Jakarta media reported that the 57-year-old politician died on December 19 while being taken to hospital in Jayapura. Some reports said he had stomach pains and was foaming at the mouth; others said he had difficulty breathing and died of a heart attack.

Salossa, from Sorong in the far west of Papua, served two terms after being appointed by Jakarta in 2000. He envisaged a third term next year when – after many delays – Papua will hold its first elections for governor.

Salossa's interim replacement is John Ibo, chairman of the parliament in Jayapura. He comes from Lake Sentani on the northern coast of Papua and was nominated as an election candidate only two weeks ago.

After Salossa's funeral last Wednesday, intense political and tribal rivalry surfaced between supporters from Sorong and Sentani.

Other candidates for governor include Constan Karma, formerly Salossa's deputy, former governor Bas Suebu, also from Sentani, and Australian-trained Lukas Enembe, who is a popular highland political figure untainted by corruption.

Salossa had a leading role in introducing special autonomy for the Papuan people over the past five years – a strategy aimed at bringing revenue back into the province.

However, much popular support for autonomy was lost when he could not stem rumours that Papuan politicians had Swiss bank accounts. An anti-corruption drive by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has already netted two provincial governors.

Salossa has worked with Jakarta to dampen down separatist activity in the province. This year he ordered that no one was to fly the "Morning Star" independence flag on December 1 – as Papuans do each year – to commemorate the parliament they had before Indonesia took control in the 1960s.