Jakarta – At least 500 Irianese are seeking refuge in Papua New Guinea (PNG) due to fear of erupting violence from clashes between rebel groups and the Indonesian security authorities, Antara reported on Saturday.

The people were mostly residents of Jayawijaya, the hinterland of Jayapura, which is located close to the border with the neighboring country.

The news agency said that the increase has been reported since December 1, 2000, during the commemoration of the unrecognized Papuan independence day. Around 288 people were reported leaving their villages and heading for Papua New Guinea during that time.

Thousands of security personnel were deployed to safeguard the commemoration to anticipate violence from the hard-liner separatist guerrillas.

An official from Irian Jaya's administration border affairs, F.X. Suryanto, confirmed the increase and said that the residents took alternative ways to leave Irian Jaya because the usual exit was tightly guarded by military personnel.

"The military will suggest that people return to their villages and guarantee their security so now people take an alternative way. They use a motorboat to enter Papua New Guinea which takes about 2.5 hours," Suryanto said.

According to Suryanto, the government and the people of Papua New Guinea have strongly objected the illegal arrivals of the Irianese.