Isaac Nicholas – The media delegation accompanying Barnabus Suebu, the Governor of Papua province in Indonesia, was chased away in a confrontation with the West Papua community at their 8 Mile settlement on Monday.

The media delegation went into the settlement unannounced and took pictures of the houses and other infrastructure there, angering the community. The settlers, mostly women, hurled objects at the cars transporting the media delegation. Two cars were believed damaged during the confrontation.

Reports reaching The National suggested governor Suebu was among those attacked, but an Indonesian Embassy spokesman last night denied that the governor was at the settlement.

The embassy spokesman claimed that of the 300 settlers, 75 of them came to the embassy to welcome and meet Sueba. "There is nothing, and nothing happened that was extra-ordinary," the spokesman said.

A tinted vehicle that drove into the settlement was also chased away as its occupants were taking pictures, which raised suspicion among the community.

The National visited the settlement yesterday afternoon and, thinking it was ferrying Indonesian officials, was stopped at a roadblock. After identifying the reporters in the mini bus, it was allowed through.

Spokesman Freddy Warome said the community was not aware of the visit by the Papua governor.

"They came with suspicion; they did not notify us. This land was given to us by the Papua New Guinea Government, not Indonesia," Mr Warome said. "We, West Papuans, want 100% independence, not greater autonomy. They are not welcome here," he said.

Mr Warome also claimed that certain West Papuans, who were on the Indonesian government payroll, were pushing them to accept the greater autonomy proposal. "These people are eating from two plates. They should be ashamed of themselves. One is working high up in government," he said.

Two persons who live at the settlement, but who were seen as allegedly collaborating with the Indonesian Embassy, were bashed up, and warned they would be expelled from 8 Mile settlement.

He said Sueba was a native Papuan who was working for the Indonesian agenda of greater autonomy, which the West Papuans reject outright.

They also warned the Independent Group Supporting Special Autonomous Region of Papua (IGsSARPRI) that "they are not welcome here". The IGsSARPRI is a group of West Papuans supporting greater autonomy for the Papuan province of Indonesia.