After Claiming Five Lives, Will Latsarmil for KDKMP and KNMP Be Halted? Here is the Defence Ministry's Answer

The Ministry of Defence (Kemenhan) appreciates input from various parties regarding the Basic Military Training (Latsarmil) for the Red and White Village/Sub-district Cooperatives (KDKMP) and Red and White Fishing Villages (KNMP) programme. The ministry has confirmed it is ready to evaluate the implementation of Latsarmil. “Kemenhan certainly respects the input from Komnas HAM, the Indonesian Ombudsman, and other parties as part of the evaluation,” said the Head of the Defence Information Bureau at the Ministry of Defence, Brigadier General TNI Rico Ricardo Sirait, to Republika on Monday (29/6/2026). One of the suggestions raised was the cessation of Latsarmil following the high number of casualties. Rico explained that the Ministry of Defence is part of the organising committee for Latsarmil, indicating that halting the training is not solely the ministry’s decision. “We need to convey that the Ministry of Defence is part of the National Selection Committee for the SPPI KDKMP/KNMP Programme. Therefore, regarding the continuation, temporary suspension, or adjustments to the programme, Kemenhan will follow the decisions and directives of the National Selection Committee,” Rico stated. Rather than stopping Latsarmil, Rico said the focus is on evaluating the programme. One of the current evaluation steps is adjusting the activity approach, including changing the terminology from Latsarmil to National Defence and Managerial Training. “Adjustments are also being made by reducing physical and tactical activities with a military nuance, strengthening health supervision, and tailoring activities to the participants’ backgrounds as civilians,” Rico added.