Australia's Prime Minister, John Howard, refuses to apologize to Jakarta for granting asylum to 42 people who arrived by boat in January from Indonesia's Papua province.

People who arrived in the boat were granted visas earlier this month, claiming that they will be put to jeopardy by the Indonesian military if they return to the province in the western half of New Guinea Island.

According to Howard, Australia would not change its legal system to suit other countries and called on Indonesians to understand the different legal processes in Australia.

"I ask Indonesia to accept that we have a procedure," he said. "We have a process according to our interpretation of law and we don't intend to bend that and vary that."

The Prime Minister's statement came after a poll showing that 75% of Australians support independence for Papua. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said he had explained the new refugee laws by telephone to Indonesia's Foreign Minister last week.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono criticized on Monday Australia's visa decision, saying their new policy is backed by "concrete proof" and it supported Indonesia's sovereignty over Papua.

Papua has been experiencing rebellious actions after Indonesia incorporated it through a controversial United Nations-sponsored "'act of free choice" in 1969.

The 2.5 million people living in the province complain about the oppression they face from the Indonesian military and about the robbing of their natural riches.