Pro-Government Militias
Naga Merah (Indonesia)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 342 |
| Country: | Indonesia |
| Date formed: | Feb. 10, 1999 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The militia emerged in spring 1999 as a small pro-integration militia. |
| Date dissolved: | Oct. 25, 1999 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | On October 25, 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. |
| 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?: | no information | Main Creating Government Institution: | no information |
| Government Link(s): | military (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | no |
| Shared Personnel: | no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | military |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ideology; village/rural |
| Primary Membership: | nationalist |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Ermera (East Timor) |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, 136] |
| Target(s): | civilians; unarmed political opposition, government critics; rebels, insurgents, or other armed group |
| Purpose(s): | protect national borders and integrity; intimidation of civilians |
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’s name translates to “Red Dragon”. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The group was pro-integration and assisted military troops in operations in East Timor. It was formed with a focus on the time after the national election on 7 June 1999. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | Rumors of the group wanting to perpetrate attacks caused people to flee. The militia attacked refugees’ homes. Evacuating people from their homes by means of violence was used as a deliberate pro-integration strategy. The PGM was accused of murder, sexual abuse, beatings, torture and intimidation. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing; beating; torture |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | The group was armed by the military, e.g. with guns. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | Naga Merah was strongly linked to the military and supported by it in joint operations. It was composed of village units with commanders. João da Costa Tavares had some leadership position within the group. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.