Facts on Cooperative Manager Deaths During Military Training

The implementation of Basic Military Training (Latsarmil) for prospective managers of the Red and White Village Cooperatives (Kopdes Merah Putih) and the Red and White Fishing Villages is confirmed to continue despite five participant deaths occurring within the first ten days of the programme. Head of the Human Resources Development Agency at the Ministry of Defence, Major General Ketut Gede Wetan Pastia, argued the training is crucial because it concerns the strategic role of two of President Prabowo Subianto’s priority programmes in strengthening the people’s economy. “Therefore, the formation of prospective cooperative managers who possess character, integrity, discipline, and an Eastern spirit is an important part of supporting national development and defence broadly,” Ketut said during a press conference at the Ministry of Defence building in Jakarta on Saturday, 27 June 2026. The first wave of Latsarmil took place from 17 June to 31 July 2026 with a total of 35,476 participants. They consisted of 30,000 prospective managers for the Red and White Village Cooperatives and 5,476 prospective managers for the Red and White Fishing Villages. Here are a series of issues arising during the Latsarmil implementation: Five participants have been reported dead up to the tenth day of the programme. They are Nola Dya Sari, Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, Anisa Muyassaroh, Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq, and Muhammad Rifki Renaldi Gunawan. Nola Dya Sari, who attended training at the State Defence Education Unit in Kalimantan, died on 26 June 2026 after complaining of shortness of breath and fever. On the same day, Muhammad Rifki Renaldi Gunawan, a participant at the Para Commando Battalion Education Unit 465 in East Jakarta, also died after experiencing similar symptoms. Rifki was known to have a history of hypertension and obesity. Meanwhile, Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, a participant at the Air Force Doctrine, Education, and Training Development Command Language Centre in Jakarta, died on 23 June 2026 due to active tuberculosis. Furthermore, Anisa Muyassaroh died a day after the training began, on 18 June 2026, from heat stroke while attending training at the Mulawarman Military Command Main Regiment Education Unit in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq died on the first day of training, 17 June 2026, due to cardiac arrest. After a participant was found to have died from tuberculosis, Major General Ketut Gede Wetan Pastia stated the organisers traced participants and the training committee at the Air Force Training Command Language Centre in Jakarta to anticipate transmission. Ketut said the tracing results found other participants exposed to tuberculosis, who had to be separated or isolated. According to him, their condition has been handled by medical personnel and is currently under control. “I can say that up to now there has been a separation, indeed several people have been indicated to have contracted the virus (bacteria), but their condition is still safe and under control,” said Ketut. The Ministry of Defence also revealed that 32 pregnant participants underwent the selection process and entered the Latsarmil programme. Ketut said from the outset the committee did not prohibit pregnant women from participating in the recruitment. However, they have now been sent back to their respective homes. The repatriation was carried out after observing the health situation developments at the education units and for humanitarian reasons. “With consideration of health developments and for humanitarian reasons, 32 people in the first stage were sent home with a talent pool,” said Ketut at the Ministry of Defence office in Jakarta, Saturday, 27 June 2026.