Amsterdam - Four Dutch journalists have been arrested in the Indonesian province of Papua, Dutch news wire ANP reported Tuesday.

The four were arrested in the city of Jayapura while reporting on a rally calling for Papua's independence.

Dutch international radio Wereldomroep confirmed that the incident involved three of its freelancers and a correspondent for the leading Dutch daily newspaper NRC Handelsblad.

Indonesian authorities said the Dutch had been arrested for allegedly violating local immigration laws and filming without permission.

The four journalists had been following the activities of Nicolaas Jouwe, 85, founder of the Free Papua organisation. Jouwe, who has lived in the Netherlands since 1962, has been visiting the country since Sunday.

Activists in Papua have been fighting for independence for many years. Tuesday's rally had been organized to force the government to allow a referendum about the issue. (dpa)