Jakarta – Six activists in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua are facing up to 18 months in jail for holding a protest against the authorities, a report said Thursday.

The activists in the western district of Fakfak have been declared suspects in a case of publicly insulting the government or government institutions, Fakfak district police chief Syahroni was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

District police detective chief Suta Astawa, quoted by Antara, said the charges were linked to a protest rally they had held against the lawful government, including the district authority and parliament. He said that the suspects had sullied the name of the head of the district administration by distributing leaflets "which are deemed to be able to create unrest among the people." The six are free pending their trial.

A low-level armed revolt has been waged in the resource-rich province since Jakarta took it over in 1963 from Dutch colonial rulers. Separatist sentiment has been fuelled by military abuses of rights. Papuans also say they do not receive a fair share of the province's rich natural resources.