Pro-Government Militias

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Diponegoro Youth (Indonesia)

Basic Group Information

Name assigned by coder: no
PGM ID Number: 332
Country: Indonesia
Date formed: Jan. 1, 1970
    Accuracy of date formed: decade
Details of Formation: The group was established in the 1970s by Ali Murtopo with the aim of supporting Golkar’s victory and fight against student demonstrations. Cf Siliwangi Youth.
Date dissolved: Oct. 20, 1999
    Accuracy of date dissolved: day
Details of Termination: The coded termination refers to the change in government, when Wahid became president. This date is taken from Archigos. No more activities of the group after 1999.
Termination Type(s): change in government

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: yes
Shared Information and Joint Operations: yes
Shared Personnel: no
Type(s) of Material Support: unclear
State Sponsor(s): none
Other Connection(s):

Group Characteristics

Membership: adolescents
Primary Membership: political
Alternative Primary Membership: ideological
Location: Java, Banyuwangi, Porsea Aceh
Force Strength: [unknown, unknown]
Target(s): unarmed political opposition, government critics; students
Purpose(s): intimidate political opposition

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 name originated from the military region it was subordinated to, i.e. the 4th Military region, code-named Diponegoro. Cf Siliwangi Youth.

New Variables from Meta-Analysis

Purpose

Purpose: The government used the PGM to consolidate the Golkar party’s victory and to suppress student demonstrations when local riots broke out between the military and the population. The group supported the army in these incidents and took part in so-called “counter-demonstrations”.
Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use faster mobilization

Treatment of Civilians

Treatment of Civilians: The group violently suppressed demonstrations with the aim of using physical violence against opposition demonstrators. This may be illustrated by the allegation that members carried guns in preparation for this type of reaction.
Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: unknown

Reasons for Membership

PGM Members Coerced? no information
PGM Members Paid? no information
Reasons for Membership: It is reported that thugs were members of this PGM, who may have started conflicts with other local thugs.
PGM Members Killed? no information

PGM Size

Size:

Weapons and Training

Weapons and Training: The group was trained and armed by the army, specifically the 4th Military Region. It is not clear what kind of weapons members were armed with, since this can only be based on allegations that they occasionally carried guns.

Organisation

Organisation: The group was broadly under the command of the military and in particular the 4th Military Region.

Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis

Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.

Evidence