Pro-Government Militias

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Sharia Police / Wilayatul Hisbah (Indonesia)

Basic Group Information

Name assigned by coder: no
PGM ID Number: 343
Country: Indonesia
Date formed: Jan. 1, 2004
    Accuracy of date formed: year
Details of Formation: As part of the autonomy deal (2001) to stop the secession war, Aceh was given the right to apply Sharia Law in full in Aceh. The Sharia Police, or Wilayatul Hisbah, emerged, paid by the Aceh government and acting as a parallel police force. It is armed with canes, which it uses to distribute 'justice'. After the autonomy deal, Aceh was allowed to have its own Sharia Police. The group was officially created by Governor’s decree 1/2004 – the same year the first activity is reported.
Date dissolved: Unknown
    Accuracy of date dissolved: day
Details of Termination: Still active in 2007
Termination Type(s): not terminated

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: subnational government
Government Link(s): sub-national government
    If link to party, name of party: None
Training and Equipment: no information
Shared Information and Joint Operations: yes
Shared Personnel: unclear
Type(s) of Material Support: no information
State Sponsor(s): none
Other Connection(s):

Group Characteristics

Membership: religious
Primary Membership: religious
Alternative Primary Membership: no information
Location: Aceh
Force Strength: [1500, 6300]
Target(s): civilians
Purpose(s): intimidation of civilians; anti crime

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 known as Wilayatul Hisbah (“Control Team”).

New Variables from Meta-Analysis

Purpose

Purpose: As the name suggests, the group was intended to implement Sharia law in the province of Aceh, acting as a police force. It covered issues such as alcohol consumption, gambling, clothing and relationships. This conservative application of law was meant to pursue the overarching aim of pacifying the Acehnese.
Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use unknown

Treatment of Civilians

Treatment of Civilians: The group arrested civilians based on violations of Sharia law and caned/beat people in case of these violations. Women were targeted in particular and sometimes raped.
Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: beating; sexual violence

Reasons for Membership

PGM Members Coerced? no information
PGM Members Paid? no information
Reasons for Membership: The group’s manner of operating and overall aim suggests religious conviction as a reason to join.
PGM Members Killed? no information

PGM Size

Size: In 2004 there were only 70 members, a number which reportedly grew to 6,300 in August 2010.

Weapons and Training

Weapons and Training: Members were armed with canes.

Organisation

Organisation: The group was active in Aceh under the authority of the provincial and local governments and was authorized to implement police duties. Mazuki Abdullad was the head of Aceh’s force.

Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis

Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.

Evidence