Participant in Jakarta's 'Fishermen's Village' Basic Military Training Dies
A participant in the 2026 Sarjana Penggerak Pembangunan Indonesia (SPPI) Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih (KNMP) programme, Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, died on Tuesday (23/6). Her health had previously deteriorated whilst attending training at the Satdik Pusbahasa Kodiklatau facility in the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base area, East Jakarta.
“It is true, the Ministry of Defence has received a report regarding the death of one of the 2026 SPPI KNMP programme participants, Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, who was undergoing training at Satdik Pusbahasa Kodiklatau Jakarta,” said Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, Head of the Information Bureau at the Ministry of Defence’s Secretariat General, in a written statement on Wednesday (24/6).
Rico stated that on 22 June, the victim experienced health problems and was promptly treated by the unit’s medical team. She was subsequently referred to the RSAU dr. Esnawan Antariksa Air Force Hospital for further medical care. Based on medical examinations, Rico said, the victim was suspected of having tuberculosis (TB).
“Despite receiving intensive care, she was pronounced dead on 23 June 2026. According to the medical examination results, the health condition she experienced was related to Tuberculosis (TB),” Rico said. He confirmed, however, that before joining the programme, Novia had undergone the required selection stages, including a health check, and was declared fit to participate.
Rico explained that from the moment health complaints arose, the unit’s medical team and the hospital had taken steps in accordance with applicable procedures. Regarding Novia’s death, Rico stated that the Ministry of Defence had conveyed its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.
“Currently, the Ministry of Defence, together with the National Selection Committee and training organisers, is continuing to evaluate and strengthen health supervision for participants to ensure their safety and health remain the top priority in implementing the programme,” he said.
Prior to Novia, two other participants from the 2026 SPPI Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih (KDKMP) and Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih (KNMP) programmes had died whilst undergoing basic military training at TNI units. Responding to these fatalities, House of Representatives Commission I member TB Hasanuddin urged the Ministry of Defence and the TNI to evaluate the militaristic training given to prospective managers of the village red-and-white cooperatives and fishermen’s villages.
He suggested that while basic military material was acceptable for prospective cooperative and fishermen’s village managers, content on cooperative management was more important. “Perhaps just the material. Military aspects in the context of the military, shooting practice, marching drills, and exposure to heat should be reduced. It would be better to provide training on managing a cooperative,” said the former high-ranking military officer who once served as the President’s Military Secretary.