Pro-Government Militias

Pro-Government Militia Website

Civil Defence Committees (CDC) (Sri Lanka)

Basic Group Information

Name assigned by coder: no
PGM ID Number: 526
Country: Sri Lanka
Date formed: Feb. 13, 2008
    Accuracy of date formed: month
Details of Formation: In February 2008, Civil Defence Committees were set up in order to protect their villages against Tamil Tigers. The idea was that civilians can protect themselves and help the regular security forces as well.
Date dissolved: Unknown
    Accuracy of date dissolved: day
Details of Termination: After the end of the civil war in 2009 and the defeat of the Tamil Tigers, the CDC had no purpose anymore. However, there is still evidence that they helped security forces in some cases and they regularly participated in other task (e.g. anti-dengue operation). In 2011, it is reported that the CDC should be reactivated again with the aim to fight crime but no evidence that they are actually active (but not dissolved either).
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: semi-official (type 2)
Created by the Government?: yes
    Main Creating Government Institution: no information
Government Link(s): state (institution)
    If link to party, name of party: None
Training and Equipment: no information
Shared Information and Joint Operations: yes
Shared Personnel: no
Type(s) of Material Support: domestic government
State Sponsor(s): none
Other Connection(s):

Group Characteristics

Membership: village/rural; adolescents
Primary Membership: no information
Alternative Primary Membership: no information
Location: Nationwide
Force Strength: [100000, 150000]
Target(s): criminals; rebels, insurgents, or other armed group
Purpose(s): self-defense and security; intelligence gathering; anti crime; 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: The group consisted of local civilian groups that fought the Tamil Tigers (similar to Home Guards/Civil Defence Force).

New Variables from Meta-Analysis

Purpose

Purpose: The main purpose was the protection of villages against attacks from the Tamil Tigers. According to government officials, the group was quite successful in doing so, e.g. by preventing terrorist attacks. Later the purpose shifted and the PGM was also involved in tasks such as combating dengue, supporting the police by providing information, and improving the relationship between the local communities and the police to combat crime.
Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use unknown

Treatment of Civilians

Treatment of Civilians: Officials highlight the role of the PGM in protecting civilians from rebel attacks during the civil war. There are also reports that journalists were harassed by the group.
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: Given the description of the forces, they are assumed to be armed, although this is not explicitly stated.

Organisation

Organisation: The group worked and coordinated with the police and security forces.

Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis

PGMD

Evidence