Jayapura – Dozens of employees of the state-run RRI public radio station staged a rally in front of the Papua People's Assembly (MRP) office Friday, protesting a change in leadership at the station.

"We are never given a chance as Papuan's to assume leadership positions at the station. The leader is always appointed from the head office," said the rally coordinator, Engel Silubun.

Engel said the RRI head office in Jakarta should respect Law No. 21/2001 regarding special autonomy for Papua province.

"We have served the station for 46 years. Jakarta should now allow a native Papuan to lead the station."

Djijoto, former head of RRI station in Sintang, West Kalimantan, was recently appointed to lead the Jayapura branch of RRI.

The protesting employees threatened to conduct a mass strike if their protest demands were not heard. Engel said the Sintang RRI station was regarded as less important than the Jayapura branch, which also supervises nine other stations in Papua and West Papua.