Papuans jailed for flying flag

The Morning Star was first hoisted when Papua became independent

Two independence activists in the Indonesian province of Papua have been sentenced to jail for treason, after they flew a separatist flag.

Yusac Pakage and Philep Karma received jail terms of 10 and 15 years respectively for hoisting the flag last December.

The pair have both appealed, according to the judge who heard the case.

Papua was briefly independent in the 1960s, after Dutch colonisers withdrew, and before Indonesia took control.

Prosecutors had recommended Judge Radiantoro, presiding, sentence them to just five years in jail.

But he argued that they "showed no remorse for their actions and have repeatedly claimed they were not Indonesian citizens".

Separatist activists in the province want it to be renamed West Papua - the name it was given on 1 December 1962 as Dutch colonisers withdrew from the area.

Indonesia ignored the declaration and took control of the province in 1963.