Prabowo Monitors Deaths of Prospective Village Cooperative Managers During Military Training

Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi has stated that President Prabowo Subianto is personally monitoring the situation following the deaths of prospective village cooperative managers during basic military training. To date, three individuals have been confirmed dead during the training. “(The President) is monitoring everything,” Prasetyo said at the House of Representatives building in Jakarta on Friday, 26 June 2026. According to the Presidential Spokesperson, the government is conducting a joint evaluation to determine whether there was any negligence in the training procedures. However, Prasetyo claimed that no indication of negligence by the organisers has been found so far. Based on reports received, the cause of death for the three individuals was attributed to health factors. “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),” said the Gerindra Party politician. Prasetyo stated that the possibility of halting the military training programme for prospective cooperative managers can only be considered after the evaluation results are released. He expressed confidence that the training activities were not overly strenuous for the participants. He also conveyed the government’s condolences and commitment to improving military training procedures in the future. “It was not heavy yet, just the first and second day. So perhaps (those who died) had pre-existing health conditions,” Prasetyo said. In addition to military training, Prasetyo emphasised that thousands of prospective Merah Putih cooperative managers also receive education to boost their competence, with the military training being just one component of the overall preparation process. The number of prospective managers of the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives and Merah Putih Fishermen’s Village Cooperatives who died during military training has risen to three. The latest victim was named Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang. Novia was participating in basic reserve component military training at the Language Centre of the Indonesian Air Force’s Doctrine, Education, and Training Command in Jakarta. Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, Head of the Information Bureau at the Ministry of Defence’s Secretariat General, said Novia died on Tuesday, 23 June 2026. He stated that the participant in the Sarjana Penggerak Pembangunan Indonesia (SPPI) programme for prospective Merah Putih Cooperative managers experienced a health issue and immediately received treatment from the unit’s medical 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 before joining the basic military training programme, participants had undergone a selection process in accordance with applicable regulations, including a medical examination. The results of that selection, according to Rico, declared Novia fit to participate in the education programme. The Ministry of Defence had previously confirmed the deaths of two other prospective cooperative managers during basic reserve component military training. They were named Anisa Muyassaroh and Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq. Anisa was undergoing military training at the Mulawarman Regional Military Command’s Main Regiment Education Unit in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. Meanwhile, Yonanda was training at the Army Combat Training Centre Education Unit in Baturaja, Ogan Komering Ulu Regency, South Sumatra. Through a press release, the Ministry of Defence stated that Anisa experienced a health issue before her death, which was attributed to heat stroke. Yonanda’s death was attributed to cardiac arrest. The basic military training for over 35,000 prospective managers of the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives and Merah Putih Fishermen’s Village Cooperatives 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 training.