Pro-Government Militias

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Anti-Terrorist Liberation Group (GAL) (Spain)

Basic Group Information

Name assigned by coder: no
PGM ID Number: 5
Country: Spain
Date formed: Jan. 1, 1979
    Accuracy of date formed: day
Details of Formation: The group announced its existence in December 1983, having been set up by two brothers linked to anti-ETA activity since 1979. Those linked to the brothers were in the 1960s members of the Secret Army Organisation (OAS) who fought against Algerian independence.
Date dissolved: Jan. 1, 1987
    Accuracy of date dissolved: day
Details of Termination: The PGM was terminated in 1987 when France agreed to deport ETA activists.
Termination Type(s): none

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 information
    Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: none
PGM Becomes Rebel Group? no information
    Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: none

Government Relation, Support, and Training

Government Relation: informal (type 1)
Created by the Government?: no
    Main Creating Government Institution: none
Government Link(s): state (institution)
    If link to party, name of party: None
Training and Equipment: no information
Shared Information and Joint Operations: no information
Shared Personnel: yes
Type(s) of Material Support: domestic government; corporation; military
State Sponsor(s): none
Other Connection(s): French underworld

Group Characteristics

Membership: security forces; mercenary; ex soldiers
Primary Membership: noncivilian
Alternative Primary Membership: no information
Location: Basque region (Spain and France)
Force Strength: [unknown, unknown]
Target(s): rebels, insurgents, or other armed group
Purpose(s): protect national borders and integrity; fight insurgents

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: GAL targeted ETA members in retaliation for ETA violence. In 1984, the Spanish government denied involvement in the group, while some individuals privately admitted being involved in 1986. A court case investigated whether there was a link between the socialist government and the group in 1987. A Supreme Court trial in 1996 found no evidence linking Prime Minister Gonzáles to the PGM, but in 1995 former security chiefs revealed the involvement of the Deputy Prime Minister and the former Interior Minister. In 1994, three former security chiefs were formally accused of being involved and two Spanish police officers were arrested for hiring mercenaries to carry out murders in the 1980s. Some of those arrested for activities connected to the GAL were bribed by the government to keep silent and a report accused the Gonzáles government of obstructing investigations into the events. The group’s headquarters is believed to have been located in Aix-en-Provence.

New Variables from Meta-Analysis

Purpose

Purpose: The main purpose of the group was to fight Basque separatists, mainly targeting ETA, without being linked to the formal state institutions.
Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use deniability of violence

Treatment of Civilians

Treatment of Civilians: GAL injured civilians, assassinated and killed individuals suspected to be connected to ETA, and was responsible for kidnappings and torture. According to various sources, 23 - 28 people (presumed Basque separatists) died as a result of attacks perpetrated by the group.
Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: kidnapping/abductions; killing; torture

Reasons for Membership

PGM Members Coerced? no
PGM Members Paid? no information
Reasons for Membership: According to experts, some members joined based on their own political convictions, i.e. because they did not think official policy against the ETA went far enough.
PGM Members Killed? no information

PGM Size

Size:

Weapons and Training

Weapons and Training:

Organisation

Organisation: The group was financed by secret funds from the Interior Ministry, had suspected ties to the police and security forces and was supported by the military intelligence service. Convicted members of the group’s leadership included various government, police or military officials, such as José Barrionuevo, Rafael Vera, Ricardo García Damborenea, Francisco Álvarez, Miguel Planchuelo, José Amedo Fouce,
Julián Sancristóbal, and General Enrique Rodríguez Galindo.

Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis

Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.

Human Rights Watch. 2005. “Setting an Example? Counter-Terrorism Measures in Spain.” Jan 26, 2005. https://www.hrw.org/report/2005/01/26/setting-example/counter-terrorism-measures-spain

Wikipedia. “GAL (paramilitary group).” https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=GAL_(paramilitary_group)&oldid=815312909

Evidence