Jakarta – Police and separatist leaders in Indonesia's Irian Jaya province on Friday appeared set for further conflict over a banned separatist flag, just one day after a landmark compromise agreement was reached.

The agreement stated that on December 1 all "Morning Star" flags would be pulled down by native Papuans, except for those flying in front of traditional tribal organisation centers in five districts. "We are very happy with the agreement," Papua Presidium chief Theys Eluay told AFP by phone, "because it means the Morning Star will still fly."

Eluay and fellow Presidium members, however, said the Morning Star flag would be raised in all 14 districts of Irian Jaya after December 1. "Why limit it to five districts? Papua has 14 districts and each district has the same right," Eluay said. "After December 1 we will ask the government to increase the number of districts where it can be raised."

But police chief Brigadier General Sylvanus Wenas said the flag would only be tolerated in the districts of Jayapura, Serui, Merauke, Manokwari and Puncak Jaya, the only areas where the flag is currently flying.

"Lots of Morning Star flags are raised there. But there are none in the other nine districts," he said. "Theys Eluay read and signed the agreement, he should know," Wenas told AFP by phone from the main city Jayapura.

Eluay said independence supporters – including thousands of civilian guards grouped under the Papua Taskforce – accepted the agreement, understanding that at least one flag would still fly in each district. Pro-independence civilian guards known as the Papua Taskforce had vowed to defend the flag till death, saying they were ready to become martyrs.

Anthropologists say the Morning Star symbol originated in the 19th century and signified the imminent arrival of a saviour figure to lift Papuans out of poverty and misery. Separatist leaders and the Indonesian government say it is now a symbol of independence.

Wenas said the police would not be responsible for removing the flags on the December 1 deadline. "That is for the Papuan people to do themselves," he said.

In an effort to rein in the Papua Taskforce, police have ordered them to vacate by December 1 a government cultural center in Jayapura which they have appropriated as their de-facto headquarters. Eluay said they would move out to his home at Sentani, just outside the provincial capital, the only place in Jayapura where the Morning Star would fly legally beyond December 1. Police on Tuesday arrested the taskforce's deputy chief along with two members on charges of extortion from shops and traders in Jayapura.

That declaration will be commemorated on December 1. "We shall commemorate our aspirations to our own sovereignty," Eluay said. "We have the right to our own sovereignty."