Pro-Government Militias
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
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.