State Secretary Mourns Three SPPI Participants Who Died During Military Training, Ensures Evaluation

State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi has expressed concern over the deaths of three members of the Sarjana Penggerak Pembangun Indonesia (SPPI) programme for the Koperasi Desa Merah Putih (KDMP) and Koperasi Nelayan Merah Putih (KNMP) during basic military training. Prasetyo confirmed the government is evaluating the entire process. “Evaluation is certain, all processes are reviewed if there is, for example, a procedural error. And if a procedural error points towards negligence, that is also part of it,” Prasetyo said during a question-and-answer session with journalists at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday. Prasetyo assessed that there is no indication of negligence yet regarding the deaths of the three prospective managers of Kopdes Merah Putih and Kampung Nelayan during the military training. The government, he said, mourns the deaths of the three training participants. “I think there is no indication of negligence yet, because according to the reports we heard, it was only on the first or second day. We certainly first convey our concern and deep condolences. But let us continue to strive for the best,” he said. Prasetyo also did not comment much on speculation about the candidates’ physical capability during the military training process. He considered the most likely cause of the participants’ deaths to be health factors. “Not yet, it was not heavy, it was only the first or second day. So perhaps they did have pre-existing health conditions,” he added. Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the House of Representatives, Anton Sukartono Suratto, previously made similar remarks regarding the three SPPI members who died during military training. Anton urged an evaluation from the administrative stage through to health screening. “An evaluation is needed from the administrative requirements check stage to the implementation of the training. Firstly, health checks for civilian participants must be tightened, and must not merely fulfil formalities,” Anton told journalists on Friday. One member of the SPPI programme for prospective KNMP managers was reported to have died while attending basic military training. This case brings the total number of prospective KDMP and KNMP managers who have died during military training to three. “It is true, the Ministry of Defence has received a report regarding the death of one of the 2026 SPPI KNMP programme participants named Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, who was undergoing education at the Satdik Pusbahasa Kodiklatau Jakarta. The Ministry of Defence conveys its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased,” said the Head of the Defence Information Bureau of the Ministry of Defence Secretariat General, Brigadier General TNI Rico Ricardo Sirait, as reported by Antara on Wednesday.