Defence Ministry Reveals Funding Source for Compensation of Deceased Cooperative Training Participants

The Ministry of Defence has stated that the families of five candidates for village/sub-district cooperative managers, known as the Red and White Village Cooperative (Kopdes Merah Putih), who died during basic military training will receive compensation of Rp 50 million per family. Deputy Minister of Defence Donny Ermawan Taufanto said the source of funds for the compensation comes from the budget previously allocated for organising this activity. “The budget is from the government,” Donny said at the DPR, MPR, and DPD Complex on Wednesday, 1 July 2026. Donny did not explain the details of which government budget line is being used as the source of compensation for the families of the deceased participants. He only said that from the outset, the government had allocated a budget for this activity, both for the selection stage and for operational implementation. “Including, we will also reimburse the victims’ transport tickets to the training site. Again, the budget for this was allocated beforehand,” said Donny. In addition to compensation from the ministry, the families of the deceased participants will receive compensation amounting to approximately Rp 42 million from the Social Security Administering Body (BPJS). According to Donny, the BPJS compensation is given on the consideration that the victims died due to an accident or illness while on duty. “We do not know the exact amount yet, but it is likely around Rp 42 million, depending on the criteria of whether it is classified as an accident or illness,” he said. Previously, the Head of the Defence Information Bureau of the Ministry of Defence Secretariat General, Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, had said that the financing of the basic military training for tens of thousands of prospective cooperative managers uses the same budget standards as the education and training for the reserve component (Komcad). However, at that time he declined to disclose the amount of funds used in the programme. “For financing, the discipline training uses the financing standards for Komcad education and training, managed in accordance with applicable regulations,” Rico said when confirmed on Saturday, 20 June 2026. Rico explained that the funding for the activity does not solely come from the Ministry of Defence. The Ministry of Cooperatives and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries are also involved in financing the programme according to their respective fields. According to him, the Ministry of Cooperatives finances managerial training for prospective managers of the Red and White Village Cooperative. Meanwhile, managerial training for participants of the Red and White Fishermen’s Village is supported by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. The implementation of basic military training for prospective KDMP managers and the Red and White Fishermen’s Cooperative came under scrutiny after five participants were declared dead while taking part in the activity. The five individuals were Nola Dya Sari, Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, Anisa Muyassaroh, Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq, and Muhammad Rifki Renaldi Gunawan.