Three SPPI Participants Die During Military Training, Presidential Staff Office Responds
Chief of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Dudung Abdurachman has mourned 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 (latsarmil). Dudung stressed that no indication of negligence in the training has been found so far.
"Oh, yes, I did hear the news from three locations, regarding the military training. It is being evaluated, and I received information from the State Secretary that there has been no level of negligence, because death may not necessarily be a direct result of the military training," Dudung told reporters at the Bina Graha Building, Central Jakarta, on Friday (26/6/2026).
According to Dudung, the military training material provided to SPPI participants was not classified as strenuous. He suspected there might be health factors or other conditions that caused the deaths of the three participants. "As far as I know, military training for levels like SPPI and so on is not too tough. But perhaps they were ill or something. This is being evaluated and there is an investigation. Hopefully, it will be better in the future," he said.
The former Army Chief of Staff confirmed that all participants had undergone medical examinations before attending the basic military training. However, he noted that during the training process, factors could emerge that affect the physical or mental condition of participants. "It’s just that during the training process, there may be those who are mentally or physically not strong, or it could be more due to other factors. We cannot deny death, as it is the will of the Almighty," he said.
Dudung assessed that the basic military training programme remains important for character building. He hoped the programme could continue with evaluation and improved safety aspects. "We too, before joining the Red and White Cabinet, had a retreat in Magelang. Because I think it is important for improving discipline, loyalty, cooperation, esprit de corps, and so on. Hopefully, it will continue to be implemented," he said.
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 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 Pusbahasa Kodiklatau Jakarta. The Ministry of Defence expresses its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased," said 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 (24/6).