Pro-Government Militias

Pro-Government Militia Website

Besi Merah Putih (Indonesia)

Basic Group Information

Name assigned by coder: no
PGM ID Number: 337
Country: Indonesia
Date formed: Feb. 3, 1999
    Accuracy of date formed: month
Details of Formation: The group is a pro-integration militia formed after the announcement by Foreign Minister Ali Alatas that the government considered the possibility of granting independence to East Timor (depending on the outcome of the referendum on the autonomy status of the territory). Therefore, the group was formed at the end of January or in the beginning of February 1999. Its first activity was reported on February 3, 1999. The PGM was formed by the military, which supported the group with weapons.
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. No activity of this PGM in West Timor was reported after the resolution.
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: yes
Shared Information and Joint Operations: yes
Shared Personnel: no
Type(s) of Material Support: plunder and loot; military; crime
State Sponsor(s): none
Other Connection(s):

Group Characteristics

Membership: village/rural; adolescents; criminals
Primary Membership: nationalist
Alternative Primary Membership: no information
Location: Maubara, Liquica, Dili (East Timor); West Timor
Force Strength: [2000, 2890]
Target(s): civilians; unarmed political opposition, government critics; ethnic group; international peacekeeping force; journalists
Purpose(s): protect national borders and integrity; intimidation of ethnic/religious groups; intimidation of civilians

Ethnic Characteristics

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

Other Information

Other Information: The group’s name translates to red and white iron and members wore headbands in these colours. The PGM was also active in West Timor refugee camps.

New Variables from Meta-Analysis

Purpose

Purpose: The PGM was used as pro-integration force, acting against pro-independence activists in East Timor, for instance by perpetrating attacks against them. The aim was to pressure people to join the group and vote for autonomy. In this function it was supported by the Indonesian military.
Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use faster mobilization; loyalty

Treatment of Civilians

Treatment of Civilians: The group attacked villages, killing and injuring civilians and forcing them to flee. Abductions, arson, terrorism, torture, intimidation, theft and threats were regularly used by the group. Journalists and East Timorese refugees were also targeted by attacks.
Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: kidnapping/abductions; killing; beating; torture

Reasons for Membership

PGM Members Coerced? yes
PGM Members Paid? no information
Reasons for Membership: Based on the government’s portrayal of the group as loyalists, it can be inferred that some members joined because of their political convictions. Some members, youths in particular, are reported to have been forced to join.
PGM Members Killed? no information

PGM Size

Size:

Weapons and Training

Weapons and Training: The group was armed by the military with shotguns. Other weapons included catapults, iron spears, machetes, home-made guns, knives, bows and arrows. The army (and its special forces Kopassus in particular) also provided paramilitary training to the PGM.

Organisation

Organisation: The group was part of the Indonesian Armed Forces and especially linked to Kopassus. It was under the command of the military and Kopassus.

Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis

Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.

Evidence