Pro-Government Militias
Black Cats (Sri Lanka)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 264 |
| Country: | Sri Lanka |
| Date formed: | Feb. 19, 1989 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The first reports are from February 1989, shortly after Premadasa became president. The group is associated with his party, the United National Party. Although some evidence suggests this party created the Black Cats, it is uncertain who actually created this group. |
| Date dissolved: | Nov. 12, 1994 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | year |
| Details of Termination: | The termination of the PGM is coded on November 12, 1994 when the new president Kumaratunga (Sri Lanka Freedom Party) took office and a new cabinet was formed. |
| Termination Type(s): | change in government |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | no |
| Former Armed Group? | no |
| 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: | informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: | unclear | Main Creating Government Institution: | unclear |
| Government Link(s): | political party; state (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | United National Party |
| Training and Equipment: | no information |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | no information |
| Shared Personnel: | no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | no information |
| Primary Membership: | no information |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | North East e.g. Trincomalee |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | civilians; unarmed political opposition, government critics; rebels, insurgents, or other armed group |
| Purpose(s): | protect state, national or religious leader(s); intimidate political opposition; 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: | Links to state institutions are very unclear. According to locals and diplomats there may have been cooperation with the police, although it denied these allegations. Formally, the government also denied links, but reports state that the group belonged to particular ministers or members of the ruling party. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The group was used to kill left-wing rebels and political opponents, e.g. members of the JVP. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | There are reports of mass killings and executions committed by the PGM. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: |
Organisation
| Organisation: | With the government denying any connection to the group, there is no information on its leadership, chains of command or how it was controlled. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.