GNE
Two people have been found dead in eastern Indonesia's Papua province, a day after security forces stormed a pro-independence assembly, police said.
Hundreds of paramilitary police and army troops fired warning shots, used tear gas and beat participants at the Third Papua Congress on Wednesday in the town of Abepura outside the provincial capital Jayapura.
"The two men's bodies were found this morning in a mountainous area behind a local military office about two kilometres away from the rally site," Papua police spokesman Wachyono told AFP on Thursday.
One victim was found with a head injury and the other had a wound above his left hip, he said, adding that he could not confirm if the men were victims from Wednesday's clashes and that autopsies were being carried out.
For decades, ethnic Papuans have rejected the region's special autonomy within Indonesia, and demanded a referendum on self-determination for its estimated 3.6 million population.
Witnesses said around 5,000 people attended Wednesday's congress, while police estimate 1,500 took part. Papua's indigenous Melanesians were out in force, including youths and human rights activists, as well as tribal and religious leaders.
Wachyono said at least 30 participants were injured in Wednesday's clashes, in which police punched participants and beat them with batons and rifle butts.
Police intervened after a group of leaders declared independence and raised the separatist Morning Star flag.
"The security forces were outnumbered. There were only 240 of us facing around 1,500 protesters. Some were hit by our batons. But none of them had gunshots," Wachyono said.
Police have arrested five organisers of the rally and they could each face 20 years' imprisonment for treason.
Indonesia has strict treason laws and courts have handed down stiff penalties from 20 years' jail to life for people caught with separatist symbols such as the Papuan flag.
© 2011 AAP