Pro-Government Militias
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
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.