Another Candidate Manager of the Merah Putih Village Cooperative Dies During Military Training

Another candidate manager for the Merah Putih Village Cooperative and Merah Putih Fishermen’s Village Cooperative has died while attending military training in Jakarta, bringing the total number of fatalities to four. The latest victim was Muhammad Rifki Renaldi Gunawan, who passed away in the early hours of Friday, 26 June 2026. The death was confirmed by Destry Anna Sari, Deputy for Talent Development and Competitiveness at the Ministry of Cooperatives. Sari stated that the victim was known to have a pre-existing medical condition prior to joining the military training. “Yes, the family said the deceased had a congenital disease,” Sari told Tempo via text message on Friday. Sari also verified a chronology report obtained by Tempo, which identified Rifki as a candidate manager for the Merah Putih Village Cooperative undergoing training with the III/Siliwangi Regional Military Command. The report stated that Rifki began experiencing health problems on Thursday, 25 June 2026, at around 2.30 p.m. Western Indonesian Time, when he visited the health room complaining of shortness of breath and weakness. According to the same report, Rifki had a history of hypertension and regularly took 5 milligrammes of Amlodipine. An initial examination recorded his body temperature at 36.8 degrees Celsius with oxygen saturation of 96 percent. The local military unit’s health team then administered oxygen therapy at 3 litres per minute via nasal cannula and directed the participant to rest in the health room. His condition briefly improved, allowing him to resume activities. However, at around 6.00 p.m., Rifki again experienced shortness of breath. Approximately 25 minutes later, he was referred to the Emergency Department of the Dr. Esnawan Antariksa Air Force Hospital in Jakarta. Upon arrival at the hospital at around 6.30 p.m., Rifki’s condition deteriorated. According to the doctor’s summary in the report, the patient was diagnosed with decreased consciousness with suspected neurogenic, cardiogenic, and pneumonia causes. The doctor also noted suspected hypovolemic shock or septic shock, as well as severe hyponatraemia. Rifki was pronounced dead at 00.28 a.m. “Following coordination with the family, the deceased is planned to be buried in Sumedang,” the report stated. Previously, the Ministry of Defence had confirmed the deaths of three other candidate managers for the Merah Putih Village Cooperative and Merah Putih Fishermen’s Village Cooperative during basic reserve command military training. The three were Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, Anisa Muyassaroh, and Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq. All three died after experiencing a decline in their health. Novia, who was training at the Indonesian Air Force Doctrine, Education, and Training Development Command Language Centre in Jakarta, died on Tuesday, 23 June 2026, with a history of tuberculosis. Anisa died on 18 June 2026 after suffering heat stroke during training at the Mulawarman Military Command Main Regiment Education Unit in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. Yonanda was pronounced dead due to cardiac arrest on 17 June 2026 while training at the Indonesian Army Combat Training Centre Education Unit in Baturaja, Ogan Komering Ulu Regency, South Sumatra.