Jayapura – Around 200 people blocked a road in front of Papua Police Headquarters in Jayapura on Friday, as part of a protest against a decision to transfer the Jayapura Police chief.

The rally, which involved people performing a traditional ritual, caused traffic jams in nearby areas from the time it began at 11 a.m. local time (9 a.m. Jakarta time).

Gurius Tabuni, the coordinator of the group claiming to be representatives of a local tribe in Wamena, and said the current Jayapura Police chief Sr. Comr. Robert Djoensoe had been very close to the local people.

"We want a police chief who is down to earth and willing to make sacrifices for the people," Gurius said at a meeting with Papua Police Sr. Comr. Petrus Waine and Sr. Comr. Agus Rianto, as quoted by kompas.com.

The office had decided to transfer Robert to a position at the provincial office and had assigned Adj. Sr. Comr. Iwan Setiawan, currently chief of Yapen Islands Police, to replace him.

The group dispersed after Petrus and Agus promised to take the group's demands to the provincial police leadership.