Pro-Government Militias

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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

Information was taken from the news sources listed in the PGMD.

Wikipedia. “Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.” https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Democratic_Karen_Buddhist_Army&oldid=816596395

Evidence