Unless West Papua is granted independence from Indonesia, a time bomb will go off affecting Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand, according to a West Papuan activist.

John Rumbiak fears West Papuans will be embroiled in a bloody war if independence is not granted.

Rumbiak, 42, has been sued by the Indonesian government, received death threats and been under surveillance. He has even had to flee his country in fear for his life.

To help publicise the atrocities West Papuans are facing – he says more than 100,000 have been killed by the Indonesian military since the 1960s – Rumbiak started a New Zealand-wide speaking tour this week.

Rumbiak, chairman of West Papua human rights organisation Elsham, said the New Zealand government should put pressure on Indonesia to grant independence to his country.

He told of Indonesian soldiers constantly walking around the country's villages, independence supporters receiving death threats on a regular basis and soldiers increasing tension between the native West Papuans and migrant Indonesians by spreading rumours.

"If this situation is allowed to go on, a time bomb will go off and Papua New Guinea [on the other side of the island], Australia and New Zealand will be affected," Mr Rumbiak said.

While he is forced to live in the United States to preserve his life, Rumbiak says his desire to help his people overcomes his fear. "You do get scared but what keeps me going is you've got to believe in the truth." Mr Rumbiak is in New Zealand for a month.