Pro-Government Militias
Blue Shirts (Thailand)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 463 |
| Country: | Thailand |
| Date formed: | March 1, 2009 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | month |
| Details of Formation: | Sources indicate that Newin Chidchob, a former loyalist of Thaksin Shinawatra and founder of the Bhumjaithai Party, was the initiator of the Blue Shirts. He was the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, which was the coalition partner of the Democrat Party and ruling prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. Other evidence indicates that the group emerged under the auspices of the Interior Ministry and run by Chaovarat Chanweerakul, the Bhumjaithai party leader. The first activities of the PGM are reported in March 2009 and the group is opposed to Thaksin Shinawatra and his supporters, the Red Shirts. |
| Date dissolved: | Aug. 5, 2011 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | On 5 August 2011, Yingluck Shinawatra took office as the prime minister of Thailand after winning the election against the Democrat Party and Bhumjaithai Party, coded as the end of the group as a pro-government militia. |
| 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? | 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?: | unclear | Main Creating Government Institution: | unclear |
| Government Link(s): | person/minister; political party |
| If link to party, name of party: | Bhumjaithai Party |
| Training and Equipment: | no information |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | no information |
| Shared Personnel: | no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | no information |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): | There is evidence that the Blue Shirts are also linked to the Ministry of Interior which used the PGM for the protest in Pattaya. However, the minister at this time was Chaovarat Chanweerakul, a member of the Bhumjaithai Party. |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ideology; party activists |
| Primary Membership: | no information |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Bangkok, Pattaya |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | unarmed political opposition, government critics |
| Purpose(s): | protect state, national or religious leader(s); intimidate political opposition |
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 Blue Shirts are opposed to the Red Shirts, the supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. In 2009, the two groups clashed in protests. Compared to similar groups like the Yellow or Red Shirts, the Blue Shirts appear to be more like thugs. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The purpose of the group was to counter the Red Shirts in protests in 2009 and to protect public figures and places from the red shirts. According to a statement of the deputy premier this was part of a larger goal to promote peace and create an image of unity. One report quotes a source saying that the group was supposed to keep the peace. Other sources state that the government wanted the group to start conflict with Red Shirts in 2009 protests, spread unrest and give the military a pretext to take over the government. It was used to intimidate the opposition with violence. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The group contributed to an escalation of protests in 2009 and fought Red Shirts, e.g. by throwing stones at them. Security forces did not stop this behaviour when they were present. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | unknown |
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: | While there is no information available on the group’s training, they are reported to be armed with sticks, iron rods, steel pipes, clubs, wooden planks and rocks. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | According to news sources the group was commanded by the Ministry of Interior. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.