Pro-Government Militias
Dadurus Merah Putih (Indonesia)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 319 |
| Country: | Indonesia |
| Date formed: | April 8, 1999 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The first activity is mentioned on April 8, 1999, but the militia was formed with the help of the military some time after President Habibie announced at the end of January that an independent ballot would take place. |
| Date dissolved: | Oct. 25, 1999 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | On October 25, 1999 resolution 1272 passed by the UN Security Council established the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET). The UNTAET was responsible for administration, security, and maintaining law in the transition period for an independent state of East Timor, which was officially created in May 2002. |
| Termination Type(s): | border change |
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?: | yes | Main Creating Government Institution: | military |
| Government Link(s): | military (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | unclear |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | military |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ideology |
| Primary Membership: | nationalist |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Bobonaro, e.g. Ritabou, Maliana (East Timor) |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | civilians; unarmed political opposition, government critics; international peacekeeping force; students |
| Purpose(s): | protect national borders and integrity; intimidation of civilians |
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 a pro-integration militia that attacks East Timorese independence supporters. Its name translates to Red-White Storm/Typhoon. For more information see book “Masters of Terror – Indonesia’s Military and Violence in East Timor". |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The pro-integration group was used to influence the outcome of the autonomy referendum in East Timor, targeting voters, pro-independence organisations and activists with violence. After the referendum’s results were clear, the PGM sought revenge for the pro-independence outcome with more attacks, directed by the armed forces. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The PGM intimidated and terrorised voters, activists and organisations in the autonomy referendum in East Timor. It attacked and murdered civilian, resulting in casualties, burnt down houses and torture. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing; torture |
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: | Based on reports of joint operations of the army with the PGM in Maliana, the group was commanded by the military and its special forces, the Kopassus. Natalino Monteiro is named as a prominent driving force of the actions of the militia. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.