Pro-Government Militias
Sandline International (Papua New Guinea)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 127 |
| Country: | Papua New Guinea |
| Date formed: | Jan. 31, 1997 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | day |
| Details of Formation: | The contract was signed on January 31, 1997, with the aim of the PCM to fight the secessionists on Bougainville. The first mercenaries arrived in the beginning of February. |
| Date dissolved: | March 20, 1997 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | Sandline operatives left PNG in March 1997--leaving Chan to fight for his job after the PNG government suspended the contract. |
| Termination Type(s): | government defects |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | yes |
| Former Group? | yes |
| Former Armed Group? | yes |
| Former Rebel Group? | no |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | no |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | semi-official (type 2) |
| Created by the Government?: | no | Main Creating Government Institution: | none |
| Government Link(s): | state (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | no |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government; self-maintained |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | mercenary; foreign nationals |
| Primary Membership: | noncivilian |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Bougainville |
| Force Strength: | [135, 150] |
| Target(s): | rebels, insurgents, or other armed group |
| Purpose(s): | protect national borders and integrity |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Membership: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Purpose: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | not applicable |
Other Information
| Other Information: |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The government hired mercenaries from Sandline International to support the army in its fight against Bougainville rebels. The contract from January 31, 1997 required Sandline to capture or kill the Bougainville Revolutionary Army and to regain control over the state territory. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | Due to the government’s use of mercenaries the situation in Papua New Guinea escalated. In March 1997, the government had to suspend its contract with the PMC due to pressure from protesters and the general public. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | unknown |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no |
| PGM Members Paid? | yes |
| Reasons for Membership: | Members were foreign mercenaries hired by the UK-based company Sandline International. |
| PGM Members Killed? | never |
PGM Size
| Size: | Sandline International sent between 130 and 150 mercenaries to Papua New Guinea. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | Sandline members trained the Papuan armed forces. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | Sandline International was closely linked to Executive Outcomes, another security contractor. The government hired the PMC to fight the Bougainville Revolutionary Army. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.