Reporter: Steve Marshall
Mark Colvin: Few issues are more sensitive for Australian foreign policy than the Indonesian province of Papua, the western half of the island that also contains Papua New Guinea. Yesterday, three Papuans landed on an island in the Torres Strait after fleeing their homeland. Three months ago, 42 asylum seekers from Papua landed on Australian shores and were granted temporary refugee visas.
Tonight our correspondent Steve Marshall takes us into Papua where he found students desperate to get to Australia to escape from what they describe as an "abusive and murderous" Indonesian military. (sound of Melanius Pigai speaking)
Steve Marshall: Crouched in a small hut near the Papuan capital Jayapura, student Melanius Pigai tells me a disturbing story. He explains how he and 20 other students tried to flee Papua at night onboard boats bound for neighbouring Papua New Guinea.
(sound of Melanius Pigai speaking)
"We went to a boat and boarded it," he says. "Then after we started, the navy started to chase us. They were chasing us, and then the boat sunk and then we swam our separate ways. Some people drowned. There was one person who was killed. He was stabbed by the military. He was stabbed by the military," he says.
Steve Marshall: Indonesian authorities denied the boat chase and described the death as accidental drowning.
Other students told me similar stories of Indonesian soldiers intent on revenge. They claim the military is hunting down Papuan students who took part in the protest last march over the huge Freeport gold and copper mine.
The mine is one of Indonesia's biggest export earners has been a focal point of discontent among Papuans for decades. Papuans have long accused Freeport of environmental vandalism and complicity in human rights abuses. Five Indonesian security officers were killed in the protest.
According to the Brussels-based think tank, the International Crisis Group, the Indonesian military responded with a violent crackdown.
(sound of Melanius Pigai speaking)
Melanius Pigai says some students were arrested, others were killed, shot, cut up or sliced up. Free West Papua activist Nick Chesterfield says we have every reason to believe Mr Pigai's account.
Nick Chesterfield: There is constantly the threat of arbitrary arrest and detention. It doesn't matter if you have got anything to do with independence activities. Just the mere fact that your Papuan is cause enough for the Indonesian military to arrest you, usually without charge, beat you and butcher you, which quite regularly results in murder.
Steve Marshall: Melanius Pigai and his fellow students were trying to get to Australia. They were hoping to be granted refugee status, as are the 42 Papuans who reached Australian shores in January before being granted temporary bridging visas.
In response to Indonesian anger over the visas, the Australian Government has effectively slammed the door shut on any more asylum seekers. From now on, all new boat arrivals will be processed offshore. Even if they are found to be refugees, Australia will send them to a third country for resettlement.
Papuan activist Jonah Wenda says despite Australia's change of rules, it will remain a prime destination for asylum seekers, such as the three Papuan men who turned up on an island in the Torres Strait yesterday.
(to Jonah Wenda) Jonah Wenda will the change in rules stop you sending people to Australia?
(sound of Jonah Wenda speaking)
"No, they will never stop us," Jonah Wenda says. "We will continue to come to Australia and I believe grassroots people and even some in the Parliament will support this," he says.
This is Steve Marshall in Papua for PM.