Pro-Government Militias

Pro-Government Militia Website

Pemuda Pancasila (Indonesia)

Basic Group Information

Name assigned by coder: no
PGM ID Number: 327
Country: Indonesia
Date formed: Oct. 28, 1959
    Accuracy of date formed: year
Details of Formation: The PGM was first established in October 1959 by the military commander General Abdul Haris Nasution. In 1978 it received backing from the government under Soharto and the Golkar party.
Date dissolved: Jan. 1, 2003
    Accuracy of date dissolved: year
Details of Termination: After Suharto’s resignation, Pemuda Pancasila lost its influence and funding and separated from Golkar, the party it originally supported. Pemuda founded its own, politically insignificant party, the Patriot Party. From 2003 onwards, Pemuda was supported by the military.
Termination Type(s): PGM defects

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: semi-official (type 2)
Created by the Government?: yes
    Main Creating Government Institution: military
Government Link(s): person/minister; political party
    If link to party, name of party: Golkar (Party of the Functional Groups)
Training and Equipment: yes
Shared Information and Joint Operations: yes
Shared Personnel: no
Type(s) of Material Support: domestic government; military; crime
State Sponsor(s): none
Other Connection(s): Pemuda Pancasila was associated with the long-ruling Golkar party. After Suharto, the group withdrew from Golkar and created its own party (Patriot Party) to which it is now affiliated.

Group Characteristics

Membership: ideology; adolescents; party activists; criminals
Primary Membership: nationalist
Alternative Primary Membership: no information
Location: nationwide, e.g. Jakarta, Ambon, West Papua, East Timor
Force Strength: [unknown, 7000000]
Target(s): unarmed political opposition, government critics; rebels, insurgents, or other armed group; ethnic group; journalists
Purpose(s): protect state, national or religious institutions; protect national borders and integrity; intimidation of civilians; intimidate political opposition

Ethnic Characteristics

Ethnic Target(s): East Timorese (Indonesia); Papuans (Indonesia); Chinese (Han) (Indonesia)
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: given
Ethnic Membership: none
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: not applicable
Ethnic Purpose: East Timorese (Indonesia); Chinese (Han) (Indonesia)
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: given

Other Information

Other Information: This group is frequently used to instigate riots, control election campaigns and was active in every hotspot. It was reportedly loyal to the Soharto regime even after its decline. Its name means Pancasila youth and the Patriot Party was established as the political wing of the group. There were financial ties to Satgas Papua via a leading figure in Pemuda Pancasila. Pemuda Panca Marga originated from this group.

New Variables from Meta-Analysis

Purpose

Purpose: The youth organization was originally established to act as an anti-communist force and to promote Indonesia’s state ideology. Under Soharto it evolved into a means to do the “dirty work” such as provoking riots and attacking political rivals. After his downfall it was a pro-integration militia used to terminate independence activities. Members were involved in organizing and taking part in riots and were used as counter-demonstrators for this purpose. They had security-related tasks, such as ostensibly providing security and order against protestors at party gatherings like the MPR.
Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use use of violence; loyalty

Treatment of Civilians

Treatment of Civilians: The group was involved in riots in which people were killed and injured. The security forces tolerated this behavior in at least one reported instance. Similarly, when they were deployed as counter-demonstrators, members exhibited violent behavior against civilians. Pemuda Pancasila also ran protection rackets and intimidated the population.
Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: unknown

Reasons for Membership

PGM Members Coerced? no
PGM Members Paid? no information
Reasons for Membership: A common ideology appears to have been an important component for some members.
PGM Members Killed? no information

PGM Size

Size: It is reported that membership grew rapidly after the group started being backed by the government, and reached seven million in 1999.

Weapons and Training

Weapons and Training: The group was given some paramilitary training, according to one report this lasted for three weeks. Sources state that members were armed with sticks and sometimes allegedly with guns.

Organisation

Organisation: Pemuda Pancasila was associated with Soharto regime and Golkar party and backed by the military. There were also ties to and cooperation with the police. The group had local branches in the provinces and its deputy chairman is Yorris Raweyai.

Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis

Amnesty International. 2000. “Indonesia - Impunity persists in Papua as militia groups take root.” AI Index: ASA 21/34/00

Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.

Evidence