Campaigners showed solidarity with their fellow countrymen by raising the West Papuan flag over Oxford Town Hall.

Exiled countryman Benny Wenda joined Oxford's Lord Mayor John Tanner and other local campaigners to mark West Papua's National Day on Saturday.

Raising the flag - known as The Morning Star - is illegal inside the Indonesian-controlled territory and can result in jail or even execution, according to campaigners.

Mr Wenda, 32, was given a 25-year prison sentence in 2002 for raising the flag in his country but escaped a year later and fled to join friends in Oxford.

The father-of-four said: "This is really important, very significant for me and for my people. It's really meaningful.

"Seeing my country's flag raised at Oxford Town Hall makes me know that Oxford people are with us in our struggle for peace, justice and freedom for West Papua.

"It also makes me cry deep in my heart, because my people are suffering for so long under Indonesian rule.

"In my country, if we raise our flag Indonesian soldiers will shoot us dead. But here, the British people and Government have given me freedom. From here I can tell the world we Papuans just want to be free."

Fellow campaigner Richard Samuelson, 43, from Oxford, added: "There's no freedom for people to campaign for independence in West Papua."

City councillor Matt Sellwood said: "I'm delighted that Oxford is able to use its international profile to raise the issue of human rights in West Papua. What is going on there is an absolute disgrace."

Campaigners say West Papua has been closed off to the outside world and claim the Indonesian military is killing, and torturing the indigenous population. For more information, see: www.freewestpapua.org