Jayapura, Papua – Papuan members of the West Papua National Authority gathered Monday to demand the government hold a referendum, claiming that special autonomy has failed to raise the welfare of local people.

The group said a referendum is needed because any dialogue between the Papuan people and the government always ended in deadlock.

The demand was made at a rally in front of the Abepura post office in Jayapura, attended by at least 50 members of the group, led by Markus Yenu.

Zakarias Horota, spokesman for the protesters, said that since Papua was integrated into Indonesia 37 years ago, Papuans had not enjoyed the same equality, peace and welfare as other Indonesians.

"Seven years since the introduction of special autonomy, the Papuan people are being cheated. There is no progress at all. The autonomy has been enjoyed mostly by officials of the central and provincial administrations," Horota said.

A referendum is needed because it is time for Papuans to decide their own future, he said.