Customs and immigration department officials interviewed the 36 adults and seven children last night, but immigration would only say that the group was spending the night at a remote location on the cape's north.
Pamela Curr from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Victoria says it’s likely that the Papuans have been moved to an RAAF base near Weipa.
"There is a possibility they're at the Scherger RAAF base, which is 22km out of Weipa; that's the strongest possibility we've got," she told Sky News.
"The immigration department has drawn an exclusion zone around the people and won't allow anyone to speak to them."
Ms Curr said while it was not unusual for the immigration department to isolate asylum seekers, it was pointless considering refugee groups knew their names and why they were here.
"Immigration have always held people incommunicado but the difference is we know who these people are, immigration know, they have their names on a list, they know why they've come here," she said.
"This is no mystery boat from a mystery country.”
The asylum seekers were the adult children of Papuans who have been killed, exiled or jailed for their political beliefs, Ms Curr said.
"ASIO and Australian Federal Police know what's going on up there about the imprisonment of people, the disappearances, the killings," Ms Curr added.
"The names of these young people, and they're predominantly people in their 20s and 30s, they're the children of the first leaders in West Papua most of whom have either been imprisoned, executed or have disappeared...
"The problem for these young people is that if they stay in West
Papua they will be exterminated. What we're asking for is that these people be released into the community on bridging visas ... while they're applications are being assessed."
“Beggars belief”
Ms Curr said Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone's claim that it was unknown at this stage whether the Papuans were seeking asylum "beggars belief".
"They're not here on a Woman's Weekly tour," she added.
"It's a very treacherous piece of water. They've come down here with children, with wives. These people are fleeing persecution."
Senator Vanstone said relations with Indonesia would not influence any decision on an asylum claim from the Papuan group, but she had not been advised whether they had formally applied for asylum.
"Australia has an extremely good record - if someone has a good case for asylum in Australia, Australia offers them protection," Minister Vanstone told ABC radio.
"Australia has always made decisions in relation to protection claims on the basis of the merit of the claim and that has to be the case, rather than taking into account whether it will upset one or other of Australia's friends and allies," she added.
Treat them fairly
Labor’s acting Opposition Leader Jenny Macklin said she hoped the asylum seekers would not be held in detention any longer than was needed to complete security and health checks.
"We know that the immigration department doesn't seem to be able to get anything right, so I hope these people will be dealt with fairly and efficiently," Ms Macklin said.
"We want to make sure that those children are not held in detention ... and are dealt with as quickly as possible."
Long journey
The 43 Papuans spent five days at sea on a rickety boat before landing at Janey Creek, north of the Aboriginal community of Mapoon.
The group includes 30 men, six women and seven children.
They were discovered by Coastwatch officials yesterday afternoon.