Pro-Government Militias
Team Alfa (Indonesia)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 330 |
| Country: | Indonesia |
| Date formed: | Jan. 1, 1986 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The PGM was set up in 1986 by the Indonesian Special Forces (Kopassus) to fight the independence movement. The group had very close ties with Kopassus as it was controlled by some of their commanders. It was active in eastern East Timor and its existence was based on the 1945 Constitution and Law No 20/1982. |
| Date dissolved: | Oct. 25, 1999 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | The group’s termination is unclear; it was probably incorporated into the joint pro-integration militia. Unlike other militias, Alfa's leaders were charged and sentenced in 2001/2. It is coded as terminated on 25 October 1999 when the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) was established. |
| 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: | semi-official (type 2) |
| Created by the Government?: | yes | Main Creating Government Institution: | military |
| Government Link(s): | sub-national government; military (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | unclear |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government; military |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): | Received funding from the Bupati, head of the local government. |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ideology |
| Primary Membership: | nationalist |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Lautem (East Timor) |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, 300] |
| Target(s): | civilians; unarmed political opposition, government critics; rebels, insurgents, or other armed group; journalists |
| Purpose(s): | protect national borders and integrity; intimidation of civilians; fight insurgents |
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 was also called Alfa, Alpha, Tim Alfa and was active in the Lautem district. Reportedly members were given pills that fostered violent behavior. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The group was pro-integration and was used against pro-independence supporters and to force people into becoming pro-integrationists. It was also intended to assist Kopassus in combat operations. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | use of violence |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The militia was responsible for human rights violations and war crimes, including murders (also of journalists, priests, nuns), beatings, rape, torture, abductions and arbitrary arrests. It threatened or used violence to force civilians to become pro-integrationist. The group’s actions contributed to an escalation of violence against civilians in East Timor. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | kidnapping/abductions; killing; beating; torture; sexual violence |
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: | The group was armed and trained by Kopassus. Weapons included bayonets. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The PGM’s leader was Kopassus-trained Joni Marques. It was closely linked and subordinated to Kopassus and specifically controlled by officer Sgt. Syaful Anwar and by the Kopassus commander for Lautem District, Lt. Rahman Zulkarnaen. The Bupati of Lautem, Edmundo da Conceiçao Silva, also supported the militia financially. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.