Pro-Government Militias
Anti-Maoist vigilantes (Nepal)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | yes |
| PGM ID Number: | 140 |
| Country: | Nepal |
| Date formed: | June 20, 2004 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | day |
| Details of Formation: | King Gyanendra dismissed Nepal's parliament and took power himself on 1 February 2005, accusing the government of not doing enough to stop Maoist rebels in the countryside. Alongside the Army and paramilitary (cf. PGM 'Anti-Maoist special force') the state encouraged village vigilantes to attack any Maoists they could find. |
| Date dissolved: | Nov. 21, 2006 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | month |
| Details of Termination: | Termination refers to the comprehensive peace agreement with the Maoist on 21 November 2006, the vigilantes were not mentioned again after that date. Based on the peace agreement sections 46-4.8, among others, we assume that the PGM was disarmed. |
| Termination Type(s): | disarmed |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | no information |
| Former Armed Group? | no information |
| Former Rebel Group? | no information |
| 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 information | Main Creating Government Institution: | none |
| Government Link(s): | state (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government; landowner; self-maintained |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ideology; village/rural; criminals |
| Primary Membership: | local |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | ideological |
| Location: | southern and central Nepal, but also Ganeshpur (north-west) |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, 25000] |
| Target(s): | civilians; unarmed political opposition, government critics; rebels, insurgents, or other armed group |
| Purpose(s): | self-defense and security; intelligence gathering; fight insurgents |
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: | The group is coded as semi-official because members are in possession of identity cards and receive an official salary. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The PGM was primarily used by the government to fight Maoist insurgents, collect intelligence on their activities and identify members. The group also patrolled villages. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The central charge brought forward against the group is that it killed suspected Maoist rebels and it is reported that this was often used as a means against disobedient civilians. It was responsible for murder, rape, arson, attacking protesters, abduction and robbery. Reports state that it intimidated the population. According to sources, the use of the PGM by the government contributed to an escalation of violence. It is described as unaccountable and undisciplined. The group’s behaviour was tolerated and authorised by local and state officials. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | kidnapping/abductions; killing; beating; torture; sexual violence |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| PGM Members Paid? | yes |
| Reasons for Membership: | In addition to ideologically motivated members, the group included bandits exploiting their status as group members to rob locals. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | Although it initially denied doing so, the group was armed by the government, e.g. with guns and bamboo sticks, and was allowed to carry guns in spite of this being illegal. It is reported that the army trained the PGM in the use of weapons, defense and attacks. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The group received support from the army and cooperated with security forces but is described as undisciplined and unaccountable by one source. It took orders from chief district officers. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.