Pro-Government Militias
Ablai (Indonesia)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 585 |
| Country: | Indonesia |
| Date formed: | March 11, 1999 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | day |
| Details of Formation: | The PGM was officially inaugurated on March 11, 1999. The group was apparently set up based on the instructions of the Kopassus, a military special unit. |
| Date dissolved: | Oct. 25, 1999 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | On October 25, the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) was established by resolution 1272 passed by the UN Security Council. The UNTAET was responsible for administration, security, and maintaining law in the transition period for an independent state of East Timor which was officially created in May 2002. |
| Termination Type(s): | border change |
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?: | yes | Main Creating Government Institution: | military |
| Government Link(s): | military (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| 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: | ideology |
| Primary Membership: | nationalist |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Manufahi (East Timor) |
| Force Strength: | [400, 2000] |
| Target(s): | civilians; unarmed political opposition, government critics; international peacekeeping force |
| Purpose(s): | protect national borders and integrity; intimidation of civilians; 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: | Tim Sasurat Ablai is a sub-group of the overall ABLAI militia. For more information see book “Masters of Terror – Indonesia’s Military and Violence in East Timor”. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The group was used as a front for the Indonesian military, which used it to attack and suppress Eastern Timorese pro-independence citizens. One source states that it was formed to respond to Falintil attacks. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The militia is reported to have killed, terrorised and intimidated civilians who were in favour of East Timor’s independence. It prevented people from registering for a ballot and burned houses. One case of torture is reported. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing; torture |
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: | The PGM was armed by the Indonesian military. It reportedly had firearms and carried grenade launchers. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The group was closely linked to the military, the Kopassus and other units and officers of the army. The commander of the larger Ablai structure, which the group was part of, was Nazario Corte Real. Ranked below him was Francisco Capella Ferrao. The militia has been reported to be highly decentralised. There were signs of disagreement between the PGM’s leadership and authorities. The group received funding from the government and was also supported by Battalion 301. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.