| Country: | Indonesia |
| Details of Formation: | The group is a splinter group of Pemuda Pancasila and a nationalist youth group that is sponsored by the ruling Golkar Party. After Suharto and Golkar lost their power it continued to be supported by the government. The militia’s first pro-government activity is reported in November 1998 during a Special session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR). There are no details about the group’s formation other than that it is an offspring of Pemuda Pancasila (government involvement is possible). |
| Details of Termination: | The group still exists today and is described as a pro-military organization. It is questionable if it is still armed. |
| Purpose: | In the beginning, the PGM was used to help guard the Special Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR). It also provided counter-protestors in demonstrations, where members of the militia behaved violently towards opposition protestors. Thus, the group was used to intimidate political opposition and pro-democracy activists. In cooperation with the security forces it also conducted patrols and additionally ran protection rackets. Later it turned into a group of thugs for hire. Since 2007 the group was probably not armed anymore and members mainly participated in demonstrations for various reasons. |
| Organisation: | The PGM had ties to the Golkar Party and to Suharto when he was still in power. Financial support came from the government and there were links to the army. |
| Weapons and Training: | There were allegations that the group carried weapons and sometimes guns. |
| Size: | -- |
| Reason for Membership: | The youth group’s nationalist orientation suggests ideological reasons to become a member. A description of the group as thugs for hire also implies some possible material incentives to join. There was also a large membership of children of veterans. |
| Treatment of Civilians: | The group violently attacked (student) protestors in its role as “counter-demonstrators” and was involved in other types of government-linked violence against and intimidation of critics and political opponents. It was unaccountable and attacked a local human rights organisation’s (Kontras) office in a notable incident. The PGM also ran protection rackets. |
| Other Information: | As of 2014, the group is mainly affiliated to the military, not the Golkar Party anymore. Targets include human rights activists. Force strength is likely to be higher than 100, however, this number is coded as it is the only reference to force strength in the sources relating directly to this group. The group competed with various other youth organizations. |
| References: | Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD. |