Saleh's Thugs (Yemen (formerly: Yemen Arab Republic))
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: |
yes
|
| PGM ID Number: |
497
|
| Country: |
Yemen (formerly: Yemen Arab Republic) |
| Date formed: |
Jan. 26, 2011 |
| Accuracy of date formed: |
month
|
| Details of Formation: |
The group must have been formed shortly after the first protests started on 27 January 2011. The first evidence suggests 29 January 2011 but it is uncertain if there have been attacks before. President Saleh and his subordinates were involved in forming the groups and recruiting members. |
| Date dissolved: |
Feb. 27, 2012 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: |
day
|
| Details of Termination: |
The group was linked to President Ali Abdullah Saleh. When Saleh stepped down on 27 February 2012 and was succeeded that day by a new president, the Saleh’s thugs ceased to be pro-government. |
| 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?: |
yes |
Main Creating Government Institution: |
person/minister
|
| Government Link(s): |
person/minister
|
| 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
|
| State Sponsor(s): |
none
|
| Other Connection(s): |
|
Group Characteristics
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 normally just called thugs but also baltajiyas/baltagea which is the Arab word for thugs. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: |
The thugs’ main purpose was to intimidate political position during protests and to thereby ensure Saleh staying in power. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use |
unknown
|
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: |
Saleh’s thugs attacked peaceful protesters, such as a women’s march at which they threw stones (Amensty International 2011b). In another event they fired at protesters and attacked them with batons, while members of the security forces stood by and did not intervene (Amnesty International 2011a). Other reports mention that the thugs beat journalists and harassed female protestors; some activists were even kidnapped. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: |
kidnapping/abductions; killing; beating
|
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? |
no information |
| PGM Members Paid? |
yes |
| Reasons for Membership: |
Members were paid by security officials for participating. Such members included elders and unemployed, and some children of participants were also dragged to the scene by older relatives. Payments for participating in the pro-government rallies ranged from 7,000 riyals ($55) to 12,000 ($55) per day. |
| PGM Members Killed? |
no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
A news source from July 2011 says that tens of thousands of tribesmen were paid to show up for weekly pro-government rallies. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: |
Members used guns, batons and clubs, stones, jambiyas (small Yemeni daggers) and knives. In one case people were attacked with a grenade at them, but it is not clear whether the grenade came from Saleh’s thugs. |
Organisation
| Organisation: |
Saleh’s thugs were organized by Saleh and his subordinates. Members were briefed by high-ranking intelligence officials. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Amnesty International. 2011. “Deadly attack on Yemeni protesters undermines reform plans.” https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2011/04/deadly-attack-yemeni-protesters-undermines-reform-plans/
Amnesty International. 2011. “Yemeni women attacked while celebrating Nobel Peace Prize
Win.“ https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2011/10/yemeni-women-attacked-while-celebrating-nobel-peace-prize-win/
Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD
Evidence
