Pro-Government Militias

Pro-Government Militia Website

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

Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.

Evidence