Pro-Government Militias
Youth Force (Nepal)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 575 |
| Country: | Nepal |
| Date formed: | Aug. 18, 2008 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | day |
| Details of Formation: | The start date of 18 August 2008 corresponds with the election of a Maoist Prime Minister, backed by the Communist Party of Nepal – Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) (election date taken from Archigos). The Youth Force is closely linked to the CPN (UML) party. |
| Date dissolved: | Aug. 29, 2011 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | Due to a change in prime minister the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) is not in government anymore after 29 August 2011. |
| 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? | yes |
| Former Armed Group? | unclear |
| 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?: | no | Main Creating Government Institution: | none |
| Government Link(s): | political party |
| If link to party, name of party: | Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) |
| Training and Equipment: | no information |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | no information |
| Shared Personnel: | no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | no information |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ideology; adolescents; party activists |
| Primary Membership: | ideological |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | None |
| Force Strength: | [277, unknown] |
| Target(s): | unarmed political opposition, government critics; other pro-government militias |
| Purpose(s): | self-defense and security; intimidate political opposition |
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 Youth Force is linked to the CPN(UML) party, which in 2008 was in a government coalition with the Maoist party, which has its own PGM, the Young Communist League. Even though both parties collaborate in government, their youth organizations fought each other despite calls for peace from their parties. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The group was established to counter the Maoist Young Communist League (YCL) and assisted in maintaining public security. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The group did not adhere to laws and was accused of murder, kidnapping and assault (for instance targeting media personnel and students). Clashes with the YCL interfered with the peace process and undermined security in Nepal. The CNP-UML stated that the group was effective at counteracting the YCL to some extent. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | kidnapping/abductions; killing; beating |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | |
| PGM Members Killed? | sometimes |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | Other than one source describing the group as semi-armed there is no information on training and weapons. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The PGM was affiliated with the CPN-UML as its youth organisation. Mahesh Banset is reported as president of the group by one news source. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.