Kopdes Manager Candidate Deaths: Minister Says No Indication of Negligence Yet

Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi has stated that the government has not yet found any indication of negligence that caused the deaths of three prospective managers of the Kopdes Merah Putih (Red and White Village Cooperatives) during basic military training. He reasoned that the deaths occurred only a few days into the training programme. “I think there is no indication of negligence yet, because from the reports we heard, it was only the first or second day. We certainly express our deep concern and condolences. But let us continue to make improvements,” Prasetyo said at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Friday, 26 June 2026. The Deputy Chairman of the Gerindra Party assessed that the military training had not yet become strenuous for the participants as it had only been running for a few days. He suspected that the participants’ pre-existing health conditions were the cause of death. Prasetyo said the government will conduct a joint evaluation to determine if there were any irregularities in the training procedures. “We carry out all processes; if there is a procedural error, we fix it. And if a procedural error leads to negligence, that is also part of the evaluation,” he said. He added that the potential to halt the military training programme for prospective cooperative managers can only be considered after the evaluation results are released. He confirmed that President Prabowo Subianto is monitoring the news of the deaths. In addition to military training, Prasetyo emphasised that thousands of prospective Kopdes Merah Putih managers are also receiving education to boost their competence, with the military training being part of that preparation process. The number of prospective managers of the Kopdes Merah Putih and Kopdes Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih who died during military training has risen to three. The latest victim was named Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang. Novia was undergoing reserve command basic military training at the Indonesian Air Force’s Doctrine Development, Education, and Training Command Language Centre in Jakarta. Head of the Information Bureau at the Ministry of Defence’s Secretariat General, Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, said Novia died on Tuesday, 23 June 2026. He stated the participant in the Indonesian Development Mobilisation Scholars programme for prospective Kopdes Merah Putih managers experienced health problems and immediately received medical treatment from the unit’s health team. “The participant was then referred to the Esnawan Antariksa Air Force Hospital for further medical treatment,” Rico said on Wednesday, 24 June 2026. Rico explained that prior to the basic military training programme, participants had undergone a selection process in accordance with applicable regulations, including health checks. Based on the selection results, Novia was declared eligible to attend the training. The Ministry of Defence previously confirmed the deaths of two other prospective cooperative managers during reserve command basic military training. They were named Anisa Muyassaroh and Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq. Anisa was undergoing training at the Mulawarman Regional Military Command Main Regiment Education Unit in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, while Yonanda was training at the Army Combat Training Centre Education Unit in Baturaja, Ogan Komering Ulu Regency, South Sumatra. In a press release, the Ministry of Defence stated that Anisa experienced health problems before her death, reportedly caused by heat stroke. Yonanda was reported to have died from cardiac arrest. The basic military training for more than 35,000 prospective managers of the Kopdes Merah Putih and Kopdes Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih lasts for 45 days, having commenced on 17 June 2026. In addition to basic military training materials, the prospective village cooperative managers also receive technical managerial and programme management instruction.