Papuans 'hiding' after boat sinking

EIGHTEEN West Papuan asylum seekers survived the sinking of a boat off the West Papuan Coast six days ago, it was claimed last night.

Nick Chesterfield, a spokesman for the Free West Papua Campaign, said the 18 students were said by networks in West Papua to be alive after their boat reportedly collided with a speedboat.

One student drowned, and two were rescued by fisherman. Indonesian police have been searching since Thursday for the remaining students, originally believed to have drowned.

"They (the 18) have gone into hiding and are in a safe place," Mr Chesterfield said.

He said two platoons of strategic reserve Indonesian soldiers were yesterday dropped into villages Muris Kecil and Muris Besar, 80 kilometres west of the capital Jayapura, and were searching for the students.

Mr Chesterfield called on the Indonesian Government to allow independent international forensic experts to examine the body of the only known victim and parts of the wreckage of the boat to try to determine what happened.

"We suspect there has been an element of foul play from the Indonesian military," he said.

But Indonesian embassy first secretary for information Dino Kusmadi said yesterday: "There is no need for an international forensic team to investigate. I think it is quite sufficient for local authorities to handle this."

Federal cabinet will today consider a report from Foreign Affairs head Michael L'Estrange, who was dispatched to Jakarta on Friday for peace talks with Indonesian leaders. But senior Indonesians confirmed yesterday that there was little prospect of an immediate resolution to the thaw in relations between the two countries after the granting of asylum to 42 Papuan independence supporters.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono departed for a two-week tour of the Middle East yesterday without deciding if he would resume co-operation with Australia or return Indonesia's recalled ambassador.

Mr L'Estrange offered no major concessions, but explained Australia's new hardline policies to deter future asylum seekers, sources said.

Federal cabinet is likely to consider other options to end the tensions that have prompted Dr Yudhoyono to announce a review of bilateral ties and a halt to negotiations for a new security treaty. Offering money to Jakarta to help implement autonomy in the province of Papua is an option.

Prime Minister John Howard yesterday foreshadowed further meetings, including talks with Dr Yudhoyono, to help repair ties.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said yesterday he had discussed his meeting with Mr L'Estrange with Dr Yudhoyono but "we have not discussed the next steps".

Although negotiations were delicate, Mr Wirajuda said there was also goodwill on both sides to repair the relationship.

Senior Indonesians concede privately that their demands for a role in the granting of asylum to Papuans are unrealistic, but they want reassurance that Canberra will be more conscious of Indonesian sensitivities in the future.

With BRENDAN NICHOLSON, AAP