Pro-Government Militias
Pro-Government death squad (Thailand)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 518 |
| Country: | Thailand |
| Date formed: | June 8, 2008 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | It is unclear when the PGM was exactly founded but the first incident is reported on 8 June 2008. |
| Date dissolved: | Unknown |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | There are no reports that the Pro-Government death squad was dissolved or banished (like the Anti-Muslim death squad under the last military rule) and they were still active in the beginning of 2014. |
| Termination Type(s): | not terminated |
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): | no information |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | no information |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | no information |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | no information |
| Primary Membership: | no information |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | South Thailand; provinces: Yala, Narathiwat, Pattani |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | rebels, insurgents, or other armed group; ethnic group; religious group |
| Purpose(s): | intimidation of ethnic/religious groups |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | Malay Muslims (Thailand) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | given |
| Ethnic Membership: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Purpose: | Malay Muslims (Thailand) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | given |
Other Information
| Other Information: | There is no evidence that the group is linked to the Anti-Muslim death squad which was active under the rule of Thaksin Shinawatra (until 2006). However, the groups seem similar and it is not impossible that there is a connection. It is not reported who is in charge of the PGM and to whom it is connected within the government. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | According to sources, the group was used to target suspected BRN insurgents and Muslims (including religious leaders), e.g. to get revenge for rebel attacks, intimidating these groups as a consequence. The government denied this. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The group killed and injured civilians, mainly Muslims, in massacres and shootings, e.g. by targeting mosques or Muslim shops. The group was involved in a cycle of violence and revenge with the BRN and obstructed peace talks by killing of religious authority figures. |
| 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: |
Organisation
| Organisation: | News sources report joint operations with security forces, but other than this there is no information on how the government controlled the group or its leadership. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.