Tjahjono EP, Jerry Omona Sunudyantoro, Timika – Four men who claimed to be trained by the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) were arrested in Timika yesterday. They said they were members of the Indonesia's Independence Pioneers (PKRI), namely Maj. John Lamera and Cap. Gerald Titalesi.

Both were wearing the Indonesian Army uniform and Kopassus attributes. Two other members, Paulus Edowai and Nataniel Murib, were also detained. Mimika Police deputy chief, Mada Indra Laksanta, declined to call it an arrest. "We only questioned them and then brought them to the military commander," he said.

John told the investigators the PKRI was an organization guided by Kopassus and that the members had attended a military training in Jayapura – He also said the XVII Military District commander was aware of their existence in Timika. According to John, the PKRI has four members in Mimika.

The XVII Cenderawasih Military District commander in Jayapura, Papua, Maj. Gen. Erfi Triassunu, said on Wednesday that he did not know of the arrest. "I haven't received the report," he said.