Search on for asylum seekers bound for Australia

CANBERRA - A search is underway for a boatload of more than 40 asylum seekers missing after fleeing the Indonesian province of Papua, bound for Australia.

Coastwatch is this morning searching the Torres Strait for the 25-metre boat.

Four children are among the 39 adults believed to be on board the vessel.

If it does reach the Australian mainland, it will be the third boat of asylum seekers to do so since December 2001.

Convenor of the Australia West Papua Association Louise Byrne today said the group included some of Papua's leading independence advocates.

She said they were forced to undertake the journey by boat because the usual means of escaping Papua - crossing the border into Papua New Guinea - had become increasingly difficult.

"The border has tightened up a lot in recent times," she told ABC radio.

Ms Byrne said sheer desperation had forced the group to flee Papua.

"Although it hasn't been announced, I think the Indonesian government has changed its policy and is now realising that ... autonomy isn't working and I think they're about to implement a military solution," she said.

Ms Byrne could not say whether she believed Australian authorities should prepare for an influx of asylum seekers from the region.

"I really don't know," she said.

"No one (has) come from West Papua in boats before like this, seeking political asylum."

Ms Byrne was told of the group's escape from Papua in a phone call early on Friday morning.

She said fears were growing for the safety of those on board the boat, which was now three days overdue.

"They're not anywhere, so I'm concerned for where they are and that's why the National Search and Rescue have started looking this morning," Ms Byrne said.

- AAP