Government Ensures Training for Village Cooperative Managers Continues Despite Five Deaths
The Deputy Minister of State Secretariat, Juri Ardiantoro, has ensured that the military basic training (latsarmil) for prospective managers of the Merah Putih Village Cooperative and Merah Putih Fishing Village will not be halted. Since mid-June, at least five participants from the Indonesia Development Driver Undergraduate Programme (SPPI) have passed away during the training.
The causes of death for the five participants varied, ranging from cardiac arrest and heatstroke to tuberculosis.
“In general, this process is already underway and the managers for the Merah Putih Cooperative must begin work soon, so the training continues. However, input from various parties is certainly being taken into account,” said Juri at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Monday, 29 June 2026.
Juri emphasised that the government is taking corrective measures following the deaths of several participants. According to Juri, evaluations are being conducted to ensure improvements so that no further loss of life occurs. “The essence is to mitigate so that problems like the deaths of those five people do not recur. God willing, we will anticipate this in the future to prevent further casualties,” he stated.
He added that the education for managers of this priority programme under President Prabowo Subianto is not merely about managerial skills. “It is also about providing preparation to become managers who truly understand and possess a strong commitment to the nation,” Juri said.
Juri further noted, “Everything will continue, but it will be improved and evaluated to be better.”
The first wave of military basic training for village cooperative and fishing village managers is taking place from 17 June to 31 July 2026, with a total of 35,476 participants. This includes 30,000 prospective managers for the Merah Putih Village Cooperative and 5,476 prospective managers for the Merah Putih Fishing Village.
However, five participants died within the first ten days of implementation. They were Nola Dya Sari, Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, Anisa Muyassaroh, Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq, and Muhammad Rifki Renaldi Gunawan.
Nola Dya Sari, who was training at the Kalimantan State Defence Education Unit, 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 465 Commando Battalion Education Unit in East Jakarta, also passed away after experiencing similar symptoms. Rifki was known to have a history of hypertension and obesity.
Meanwhile, Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, a participant at the Indonesian Air Force Doctrine, Education, and Training Command Language Centre in Jakarta, died on 23 June 2026 due to active tuberculosis (TB).
Furthermore, Anisa Muyassaroh died one day after training began, on 18 June 2026, due to heatstroke while training at the Mulawarman Kodam 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.
The Ministry of Defence stated that military basic training is now being adjusted. The Head of the Defence Information Bureau, Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, said that reducing the intensity of physical and tactical military-style activities is part of the evaluation following the deaths of the five participants.
“In principle, the essence of building discipline and character remains, but the implementation is being made more adaptive to participants with civilian backgrounds,” said Rico when contacted on Sunday, 28 June 2026.