Pro-Government Militias
Pemuda Panca Marga (Indonesia)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 325 |
| Country: | Indonesia |
| Date formed: | Nov. 4, 1998 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The group is a splinter group of Pemuda Pancasila and a nationalist youth group that is sponsored by the ruling Golkar Party. After Suharto and Golkar lost their power it continued to be supported by the government. The militia’s first pro-government activity is reported in November 1998 during a Special session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR). There are no details about the group’s formation other than that it is an offspring of Pemuda Pancasila (government involvement is possible). |
| Date dissolved: | Unknown |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | The group still exists today and is described as a pro-military organization. It is questionable if it is still armed. |
| Termination Type(s): | not terminated |
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? | 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); military (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | Golkar (Party of the Functional Groups) |
| Training and Equipment: | no |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government; crime |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ideology; adolescents; criminals |
| Primary Membership: | nationalist |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | nationwide e.g. Jakarta, Timor, Aceh, West Papua |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, 100] |
| Target(s): | civilians; unarmed political opposition, government critics; students |
| Purpose(s): | protect state, national or religious institutions |
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: | As of 2014, the group is mainly affiliated to the military, not the Golkar Party anymore. Targets include human rights activists. Force strength is likely to be higher than 100, however, this number is coded as it is the only reference to force strength in the sources relating directly to this group. The group competed with various other youth organizations. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | In the beginning, the PGM was used to help guard the Special Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR). It also provided counter-protestors in demonstrations, where members of the militia behaved violently towards opposition protestors. Thus, the group was used to intimidate political opposition and pro-democracy activists. In cooperation with the security forces it also conducted patrols and additionally ran protection rackets. Later it turned into a group of thugs for hire. Since 2007 the group was probably not armed anymore and members mainly participated in demonstrations for various reasons. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The group violently attacked (student) protestors in its role as “counter-demonstrators” and was involved in other types of government-linked violence against and intimidation of critics and political opponents. It was unaccountable and attacked a local human rights organisation’s (Kontras) office in a notable incident. The PGM also ran protection rackets. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | unknown |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | yes |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | The youth group’s nationalist orientation suggests ideological reasons to become a member. A description of the group as thugs for hire also implies some possible material incentives to join. There was also a large membership of children of veterans. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | There were allegations that the group carried weapons and sometimes guns. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The PGM had ties to the Golkar Party and to Suharto when he was still in power. Financial support came from the government and there were links to the army. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.