Jakarta – Two Papuan asylum seekers today said they travelled to Australia seeking a university education, rather than asylum for human rights abuses.

Hana Gobay, 23, and Yubel Kareni, 22, returned to Indonesian voluntarily last month, two years after they were granted temporary protection in Australia.

They were part of a group of 43 Papuans who successfully sought political asylum in Australia in 2006, sparking a diplomatic crisis between Jakarta and Canberra.

"That was our main goal – we really wanted to continue our studies, (to go) to university in Australia," Gobay, of Merauke in Papua, told AAP in Jakarta.

"When I got there we could not continue to university. We were only learning English and computer courses. My main intention was to go to university."

She declined to talk about the human rights situation in Papua, saying: "I know nothing about it".

The pair is currently in Jakarta and today met with members of the National Human Rights Commission and parliament to discuss their situation.

She earlier told Indonesia's El Shinta radio station she returned to Indonesia for three reasons.

"The first reason was because I wanted to meet my family, secondly I have the right as an Indonesian citizen to go back to Indonesia – I love Indonesia," she said.

"Thirdly, I feel that we were treated like objects to gain something (for someone else), for personal gain. ... I went to Australia to have an education there, but in fact it was not like what I had been told."

Yubel Kareni, 22, from Serui in Papua, said he decided to return to Indonesia because he missed his family.

"We went there (to Australia) to continue study," he said. "I was disappointed when I was there... I could not continue with university."

He believed at least one other member of the group was preparing to return to Indonesia.

Last month, the leader of the group in Australia, Herman Wainggai said he had concerns for the pair's long-term safety. He could not be contacted tonight.

"All refugees want to go home. We became refugees because our home is not safe," Wainggai said last month in a statement issued through the Australia West Papua Association.

"The Australian government granted asylum to all of the 43 based on this. The Australian West Papuan community supports Hana and Yubel in their decision as it is a deeply personal one, but I have concerns for their long-term safety."