Jayapura – Indonesian police beat protesters with sticks in rebellious Papua province on Saturday to break up a demonstration over the murder last month of pro-independence chief Theys Eluay.

Some 200 police hit scores of the 700 protesters who had gathered outside the legislative building in the provincial capital Jayapura, some 3,700 km east of Jakarta. Dozens of protesters suffered light injuries.

Shouting "Freedom for Papua!", the protesters had marched from the province's main university on the outskirts of the port town demanding authorities find those behind the murder of the charismatic Eluay. "Solve Theys' Murder Now!" said one banner held aloft during the protest, the latest in a series of rallies staged since Eluay's murder.

Police said they broke up the rally because the protesters had not sought a permit for the demonstration. By late afternoon, most protesters had dispersed through the town.

President Megawati Sukarnoputri was scheduled to visit Papua on Saturday but the plan was postponed indefinitely due to what Jakarta officials said was rising tension in the province. Others have said Megawati could not travel because she had flu.