| Country: | Paraguay |
| Details of Formation: | The Colorado Party Militia emerged in 1947, when a civil war broke out. It was an irregular militia out of peasant followers of the Colorado Party, which backed the regime. |
| Details of Termination: | In 1989 Stroessner was ousted in a coup and the Colorado Militia was disbanded. |
| Purpose: | The PGM actions and government reaction suggest that the group’s main purpose was to intimidate civilians and political opposition. |
| Organisation: | The PGM was linked to the Colorado Party and to the government of President Alfredo Stroessner. |
| Weapons and Training: | The Colorado Party Militia was armed with clubs/truncheons, whips made of steel cables, garrotes, electrified cattle prods, chains, shotguns and dogs. |
| Size: | We have no information on the overall force strength. A news source form 1986 mentions a mob of about 100 armed PGM members. |
| Reason for Membership: | -- |
| Treatment of Civilians: | The Colorado Party Militia attacked students with clubs and whips, while the police did nothing to halt the attacks. In 1988, the armed Militia broke up a panel discussion, which was lauded by the Minister of Justice and other Government authorities. |
| Other Information: | The Colorado Party Militia was also known as garroteros (because of the garrotes they carried) or py nandi (barefoot ones). One news source mentions them in the context of another group, which, however, is only briefly mentioned, the GAA, or Anti-Communist Action Group. The Colorado Party Militia vandalized churches where political dissidents held anti-government demonstrations. |
| References: | Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD |