Defence Ministry Expresses Condolences Over Death of Five SPPI Trainees

The Ministry of Defence has expressed its deepest condolences over the death of five participants of the 2026 Sarjana Penggerak Pembangunan Indonesia (SPPI) programme who were undergoing State Defence and Managerial Training. The statement was delivered by the Head of the Ministry’s Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM), Major General TNI Ketut Gede Wetan Pastia, during a press conference at the Ministry of Defence office in Central Jakarta on Saturday. “We convey our deepest condolences on the passing of five participants of the SPPI Programme for the Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih and Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih (KDKMP/KNMP) 2026 who were attending State Defence and Managerial Training,” said Ketut, as quoted in a written statement from the State Communication Agency (Bakom) RI released on Saturday. The five participants were the late Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq from Satdik Puslatpur Kodiklatad Baturaja, the late Anisa Muyassaroh from Satdik Dodikjur Rindam VI/Mulawarman Balikpapan, the late Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang from Satdik Pusbahasa Kodiklatau, the late Muhammad Rifki Renaldi Gunawan from Satdik Yon PARAKO 465, and the late Nola Dya Sari from Satdik C Kalimantan. Ketut explained that the five deceased participants had different medical conditions. He added that they had also undergone health examinations, including blood and urine laboratory tests, pregnancy tests, chest X-rays, ECGs, abdominal ultrasounds, as well as eye, dental, posture, and mental health checks in accordance with applicable regulations. They were declared to have passed the health selection and were considered ready to undergo basic military education. Nevertheless, Ketut assured that his party would conduct a thorough evaluation from the selection stage to the education process to ensure the safety of participants during basic military training. Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin is conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the basic military training (latsarmil) programme for prospective managers of the Koperasi Merah Putih. “At the direction of the Minister of Defence, the organisers have conducted a thorough evaluation of health aspects,” said Ketut. According to Ketut, a comprehensive health check is necessary to determine the physical condition of the participants. Once the participants’ health conditions are known, each TNI unit acting as the latsarmil trainer must adjust the physical training load according to the participants’ conditions. In terms of handling, the Ministry of Defence also requested that medical treatment for sick participants be carried out quickly and optimally. Not only evaluating health matters, Ketut said Sjafrie requested that an evaluation must also be carried out regarding the delivery of materials during the education. “Activities are also directed to be more adaptive, educative, and attentive to the participants’ psychological conditions through learning methods that build a spirit of cooperation, problem solving, and a more enjoyable atmosphere,” he said. Thus, participants will not lose the essence of the latsarmil education, which emphasises the values of discipline and building leadership spirit.