Pro-Government Militias
Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (Myanmar (Burma))
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 280 |
| Country: | Myanmar (Burma) |
| Date formed: | Dec. 1, 1994 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | month |
| Details of Formation: | The group defected from the largely Christian Karen National Union in 1994. The DKBA signed a ceasefire agreement with the government shortly afterwards, fighting from then on for the government. |
| Date dissolved: | Aug. 18, 2010 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | On 18 August 2010, the DKBA officially joined the Border Guard Force (BGF), which is part of the regular army. A small faction of around 1000 fighters under the command of Colonel Saw Lar Pwe refused to sign up to the BGF and started to fight against the government as the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army-Brigade 5 (DKBA-5). After one year, a new ceasefire agreement was signed but it seems to be very fragile because clashes erupted afterwards again. |
| Termination Type(s): | PGM defects; integrated into regular forces |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | yes |
| Former Armed Group? | yes |
| Former Rebel Group? | yes |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | 180 |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | yes |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | 785 |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: | no | Main Creating Government Institution: | none |
| Government Link(s): | state (institution); military (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; plunder and loot; crime |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ethnic; religious; former rebels; children |
| Primary Membership: | religious |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | ethnic |
| Location: | Burma-Thai border |
| Force Strength: | [6000, 8000] |
| Target(s): | civilians; 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: | Kayin (Karens) (Myanmar (Burma)) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | given |
| 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 to protect the borders and later there were attempts to turn it into a police force. It fought (suspected) insurgents from the Karen National Union. Other tasks included infrastructural projects or agricultural measures. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The group was accused of killings and assassinations. Among its targets were suspected rebels, Karen refugees and refugee camps in Thailand, which were looted and burnt down. Sources state that the group forcibly relocated villagers and intimidated the population prior to elections by planning attacks. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | yes |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | The group had its own ideology as a potential incentive to join the group, but it is also reported that members looted refugee camps, which may have been a motivation to become a member. Religious belonging (Buddhism) played a role in the formation of the group when it split from the Christian led Karen National Liberation Army, therefore it may also be a reason for membership. The PGM used child soldiers, some of whom were forced to join. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | There is little information on training, but according to one source the military provided training to transform the PGM into a police force. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | According to one source, the leader of the group was Thuzana, but other than this there is no information about its leadership. It is reported that the group aligned with the government in return for military and financial support, but it is not clear to what extent this was implemented. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.