House Member Insists SPPI Training Continue Despite Three Deaths, Demands Stricter Safety Standards
A member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR), Amelia Anggraini, has asserted that the safety of participants in the Sarjana Penggerak Pembangun Indonesia (SPPI) programme must be the top priority, following the deaths of three trainees. Despite the fatalities, she stated that the military-style basic training (latsarmil) should continue.
According to Amelia, the training holds strategic value in shaping the character, leadership, and discipline of the participants, who are being prepared as managers for development programmes. However, she stressed that its implementation must be supported by rigorous safety standards without compromising the programme’s core objectives.
“I believe this programme should continue, but with stricter safety standards, more professional supervision, and evidence-based evaluation,” Amelia said in Jakarta on Friday.
She extended her condolences over the deaths of the three participants, who were part of the SPPI programme linked to the Village Red and White Cooperatives (Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih) and the Red and White Fishermen’s Cooperative (Koperasi Nelayan Merah Putih). Amelia described the loss of life as a serious matter that must command the full attention of all organisers.
Amelia argued that the training is not merely about building physical endurance but also about instilling discipline, leadership, integrity, mental resilience, teamwork, and the ability to make decisions under pressure. She maintained that these competencies are highly relevant for the future managers who will lead development initiatives in the field.
She called for a comprehensive and transparent evaluation covering safety protocols, training procedures, participant health screenings, and overall risk management and supervision mechanisms. “A good programme is not measured by the absence of challenges, but by the organiser’s ability to learn from every incident and ensure that similar tragedies do not happen again,” she concluded.