Pro-Government Militias
The Eagles of the Highlands (Sri Lanka)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 270 |
| Country: | Sri Lanka |
| Date formed: | Sept. 1, 1989 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The group is first mentioned in September 1989 which is the only year where activities are reported. |
| Date dissolved: | Nov. 12, 1994 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | year |
| Details of Termination: | The PGM is only mentioned to be active in 1989, afterwards there are no more incidents. 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: | security forces |
| Primary Membership: | noncivilian |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | None |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | unarmed political opposition, government critics; rebels, insurgents, or other armed group |
| Purpose(s): | protect state, national or religious institutions; 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: |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The group was used by the government to fight (suspected) rebels. Sources particularly highlight the JVP as a target. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | deniability of violence |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | Civilians were killed based on suspected membership in or support of the JVP. Their bodies were left on the street, serving as a signal to intimidate the population. |
| 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: | There were suspected ties to the government via security forces and private bodyguards of politicians, e.g. based on reported overlap in members, but no other information on the extent of the government’s control, as it denied any connection to the group. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.