Indonesian President Joko Widodo has used his visit to West Papua to announce the release of five political prisoners and an easing of media restrictions that prevented foreign journalists from travelling to and reporting on the region.
Mr Widodo told reporters the long-standing ban on foreign journalists in West Papua would be lifted in full on Sunday.
"We need to create a sense of peace in Papua. This is just the beginning," Mr Widodo said.
The Papua province has been home to the Free Papua Movement separatist campaign since 1963 when Indonesia took control of the region after the end of Dutch colonial rule.
Many West Papuans have been jailed by Indonesian authorities for raising the 'Morning Star' flag - a symbol of the independence movement, and the Indonesian military have been accused of systematic human rights abuses against West Papuans.
Five political prisoners have been granted clemency by the Indonesian President, who met the men on Saturday.
They have been in jail since 2003, after being accused of a raid on Indonesian military weapons stores.
"Today we are releasing these five detainees to stop the stigma of conflict in Papua," Mr Widodo told reporters.
However Indonesian researcher for Human Rights Watch Anreas Harsono told AFP the move was "more like image-making".
The prisoners have to admit guilt for clemency, unlike when amnesty is given.
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