Indonesia: Protesters attack with machetes, 3 killed

Five policemen were also injured in the incident that took place during a protest in Deyiai district of Papua province, police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said Wednesday.

Initially there were 150 people at the rally against racist attacks on Papuan students earlier this month, he said.

Negotiations were underway with the police trying to convince the regent of Deyiai to sign an agreement, the spokesman said, when thousands of armed people gathered and began attacking the security forces.

Four people were hit by arrows, he added.

"Currently, the affectees are being evacuated and security forces from army and police are trying their best to control the situation in Deyiai," he said.

Police have called on the public to stay calm.

A series of demonstrations took place in various regions of Papua and West Papua provinces in the last two weeks after riots broke out following a racist attack on Papuan students in their dormitory in Surabaya city of West Java, the eastern province of the archipelago nation.

They condemned racism against the students and called for a referendum for Papua.

Papua and West Papua, the easternmost provinces of Indonesia, have faced a decades-long insurgency against Indonesian rule.