Pro-Government Militias
Team Saka (Indonesia)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 341 |
| Country: | Indonesia |
| Date formed: | Jan. 1, 1983 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | Team Saka originated in Bacau in 1983 during an earlier operation by the military in East Timor against the secessionists (Operation Kikis). Its existence was based on the Constitution and Law No 20/1982. Apparently the group was active throughout the 1990s and it resurfaced as an active organization in January 1998, as a pro-integration military-sponsored militia. |
| Date dissolved: | Oct. 25, 1999 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | On 25 October 1999, the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) was established by resolution 1272 passed by the UN Security Council. 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. This date is used as the termination date for the group. |
| 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): | military (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | yes |
| 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; village/rural; security forces; adolescents |
| Primary Membership: | nationalist |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | local |
| Location: | Baucau (East Timor), Ermera (East Timor), Atambua (West Timor) |
| Force Strength: | [300, 970] |
| Target(s): | civilians; unarmed political opposition, government critics; rebels, insurgents, or other armed group |
| 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 is also referred to as Saka, Tim Saka or Pusaka. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The pro-integration PGM was used to fight against the Fretilin and Falintil in East Timor and to attack independence supporters. It was also meant to uphold public order and protect the population. It patrolled the streets and ran security networks, being used as a replacement for the military because it could operate more quickly. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | faster mobilization; use of violence |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The group suppressed and attacked independence supporters, raped and murdered the families of guerilla fighters and tortured and arrested people suspected of being pro-independence. It also shot at and killed civilians, burned their property and intimidated them. Its actions contributed to an escalation of terror. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing; torture; sexual violence |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| PGM Members Paid? | yes |
| Reasons for Membership: | |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | The group was armed and trained by the military. Weapons reported include M16 rifles, AK-47s, grenades, machetes, bows and arrows |
Organisation
| Organisation: | Team Saka was sponsored and commanded by the military and conducted operations in cooperation with the army. Its leader was associated with Kopassus and members of the group were former Kopassus/military. According to one source it was a special unit of the military as all members were official soldiers. It operated at the district level in Bacau. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.