Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu said Wednesday the province would uphold a newly issued government regulation that bans the use of separatist attributes as regional symbols, a move in line with the province's status as part of the unitary state of Indonesia.

The provincial government and legislature will discuss a more suitable regional symbol than the Morning Star, which is associated with Free Papua Movement rebels.

Earlier on Wednesday police arrested two women who were trading souvenirs carrying Morning Star logo in front of Jayapura telecommunications office. The two sellers were released after being told of the ban. Later on, a group of women street vendors rallied at the provincial legislature to protest the ban.