More than 20 people were reportedly arrested in Indonesia's Papua as they raised the outlawed "Morning Star" separatist flag.

A spokesman for the United Front of West Papuan People's Fight, says the group was making the anniversary of their declaration of independence.

Meanwhile, ElShinta radio reports around five hundred Papuan students staged a rally in Indonesia's second largest city of Surabaya in East Java in support of Papuan independence.

Every December 1, Papuan activists try to raise the outlawed "Morning Star" separatist flag to commemorate the independence of Papua.

Indonesia won sovereignty over Papua, formerly a Dutch colony, in 1969 after a referendum widely seen as a sham.