Jayapura – A group of demonstrating students from the Coalition of Students and the Community Concerned about the Land of Papua (KMMPTP) were ordered to disband by police units in Abepura for failing to comply with procedures stipulated in Law 9/1998 about expressing views in public. They were intending to hold a peaceful demonstration outside the office of the MRP.

The police officer said that according to the regulations, a letter should be sent to inform the police before going ahead with such an action.

"After negotiations with the demonstrators, they eventually disbanded because notice about the action has to be conveyed to the police three days beforehand," the officer said.

Co-ordinator of the demonstration, Buktar Tabuni told journalists that after the letter had been sent, they would hold the demonstration. Their purpose is to call for dialogue in view of the fact that after seven years, special autonomy has failed. They will also be asking about the violations of human rights that have occurred since special autonomy was introduced.

"All we want is that there should be dialogue with the central government, via the intermediary of the MRP, involving all sections of the Papuan people. If the lack of progress under special autonomy continues, we will boycott the elections in 2009," he said.