Pro-Government Militias
Chimeres / Popular Organisations (Haiti)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 370 |
| Country: | Haiti |
| Date formed: | Feb. 7, 2001 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | day |
| Details of Formation: | The pro-Aristide group consisted of many armed gangs that are thought to have evolved from the partisan groups known as "popular organisations" that President Aristide established. The date when Aristide entered office on 7 February 2001 is used as the group’s date of formation. They became pro-government at this point, although organised groups of supporters presumably existed before that. |
| Date dissolved: | March 1, 2004 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | The group was no longer pro-government when President Aristide fled Haiti in a 2004 coup. |
| Termination Type(s): | change in government |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | yes |
| Former Armed Group? | yes |
| Former Rebel Group? | yes |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | 850 |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | yes |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | 766 |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: | unclear | Main Creating Government Institution: | none |
| Government Link(s): | person/minister; political party |
| If link to party, name of party: | Lavalas Party |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government; drugs |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | unemployed; adolescents; children; criminals |
| Primary Membership: | local |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Nationwide |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, 3000] |
| Target(s): | civilians; unarmed political opposition, government critics; journalists |
| Purpose(s): | protect state, national or religious institutions; protect state, national or religious leader(s); 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: | Members of the numerous gangs were known as chimeres (fire breathing monster of Haitian mythology). Identified groups of Chimeres/Popular Organisations include: The Cannibal Army, based in Gonaives and headed by Amiot Matayer. After Metayer's assasination in 2003 the Cannibal Army turned against Aristide and Lavalas. Sleepers in the Wood, based in Petit-Goave. Clean Sweep (Bale Wouze), based in St Marc. The Red Army (Popular Organisation for the Liberation of Haiti), based in Habitation Le Clerc. Militants of La Plaine. Solution, based in Cite Soleil. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The group was pro-Aristide (and his Lavalas party) and mainly used as an instrument against the political opposition, e.g. by helping the police to suppress demonstrations or intimidating the population. It was used to mobilise participants for progovernment protests. According to one news source, members were also involved in drug trade. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | Targeting political opposition in particular, the group killed anti-government activists, suppressed demonstrations and burnt down buildings associated with the opposition. The government did not prevent this behaviour. In addition, the group used violence in its own protests for the government. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing |
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: | According to a report, weapons were provided by the president, but other than this there is no information available. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The group is subordinated to the President and is also reported to be closely linked to the police. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.