Church leaders in Papua say as many as 5,300 people have been displaced because of fighting between Free Papua Movement Rebels and Indonesian military. The leaders say the people are starving and in need of medical attention. But local authorities are accusing Papua's clergy of lying.

Presenter/Interviewer: Katie Hamann

Speakers: Reverend Lipiyus Biniluk, head of the Indonesian Evangelical Church; Commissioner Kartono, spokesman, Papua police; Socratez Yoman, president, Papua's Communion of Baptist Churches

Hamann: They're not images you're likely to see on your television screen anytime soon and that's exactly the way Indonesia wants it.

Refugees of their own land. According to reports at least 5,300 West Papuans seeking refuge in the hills and villages of Puncak Jaya regency, two days walk from the nearest town. A trickle of information about their plight has been buried in the opinion pages of The Jakarta Post in recent weeks and passed completely under the international radar.

But Papuan church leaders and human rights activists say they have very grave fears for their people. They say few outsiders or aid has reached the refugees who are camped in an area heavily protected by both TNI forces and Free Papua Movement rebels. Most consider it too dangerous to even attempt the journey. Four people died last month as a result of disease.

Reverend Lipiyus Biniluk is from Puncak Jaya and heads the Indonesian Evangelical Church.

Biniluk: Four days ago they say that people still need food, people don't stay in their own home, because they are afraid of the army and OPM leaders. So they still need food and medicine because no-one helps them.

Hamann: But Indonesian police and military have consistently denied the existence of any displaced persons. They say fighting between Indonesian forces and FPM rebels, which broke out in December, has ceased and everything is calm and accuse Church leaders of lying.

A spokesman for the provinces police, Commissioner Kartono, who goes by one name, says his forces are protectors of the people.

Kartono: The story about the refugees is actually a hoax. They do not exist. Why should they be afraid? That's a lie, there are no refugees here in Mulya. Moreover you said they are afraid of the police. We police officers are people protectors. That's a lie, okay, that's a lie. I know that this kind of thing gets made up and the intention.

Hamann: Socratez Yoman, President of Papua's Communion of Baptist Churches, says history does not judge the Indonesian's well.

Yoman: You don't believe Indonesian police. You believe the church leaders because we tell you about the evidence, we will tell you the truth. The police and the Indonesian military, they will always give you misinformation to the Indonesian community.

Hamann: When asked why Papua's leading clergymen would lie, Kartono said he didn't know but that the Australian media was also good at spreading stories about refugees. Perhaps Commissioner Kartono has heard about the television advertisements featuring West Papuan refugees that began screening in Australia last week.

Their stories of abuse and repression at the hands of Indonesian military and police are underwriting a campaign to force the Australian government to negotiate a human rights clause in it latest security pact with Indonesia. It's a message many in Indonesia may well be digesting soon too, if plans to screen the ads in Southeast Asia go ahead.

But at least for the moment, no one is looking in Papua, and the indigenous population will have to rely on the Indonesian forces to be as they say they are protectors of the people.