Third participant dies during military training for Indonesia's village cooperative programme

A third participant in Indonesia's military training programme for prospective managers of the government's Red and White Village Cooperatives and Red and White Fishing Village Cooperatives has died after suffering health complications, the Defence Ministry said, as authorities continue evaluating the programme's health monitoring procedures following a series of deaths during training.

The latest participant, Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, died on 23 June after undergoing basic military training at the Air Force Doctrine, Education and Training Command's Language Centre in Jakarta, according to the Defence Ministry.

Her death follows those of Anisa Muyassaroh and Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq, who died earlier this week during separate training sessions in East Kalimantan and South Sumatra.

Third death confirmed

Defence Ministry Information Bureau chief Brig. Gen. Rico Ricardo Sirait said Novia developed health problems on 22 June and immediately received treatment from the unit's medical team before being transferred to Dr Esnawan Antariksa Air Force Hospital for further medical care.

"Although she received intensive treatment, she was pronounced dead on 23 June," Rico said.

According to the ministry, medical examinations found that Novia's condition was related to tuberculosis (TB).

Rico said Novia had completed all required selection stages before joining the programme, including medical examinations, and had been declared fit to participate.

"Since the participant first complained of health problems, the unit's medical team and the hospital carried out all treatment procedures in accordance with applicable protocols," he said.

The Defence Ministry expressed its condolences to Novia's family and said it was working with the National Selection Committee and programme organisers to strengthen health supervision throughout the training programme.

"To ensure the safety and health of participants remain the top priority in implementing the programme," Rico said.

Two earlier deaths

The latest fatality came a day after the ministry confirmed the deaths of two other participants enrolled in the same programme.

Anisa Muyassaroh was undergoing training at the Mulawarman Regional Military Command training unit in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. According to the ministry, she experienced deteriorating health on 18 June, received treatment at the military medical facility before being transferred to hospital, and later died from heat stroke.

"Based on medical findings, she was declared to have died due to heat stroke," Rico said.

Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq was attending training at the Army's Combat Training Centre in Baturaja, South Sumatra. He reportedly suffered a sudden decline in his health on 17 June after introductory activities, received medical treatment before being referred to hospital, and later died from cardiac arrest.

"Based on medical findings, he was declared to have died due to cardiac arrest," Rico said.

The Defence Ministry said both participants had also completed all required selection procedures, including health examinations, before beginning the programme.

Following the incidents, the ministry said it had provided assistance to the families of both participants and was conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the programme, including health screening procedures, medical supervision during training, treatment protocols for participants with health conditions, and communication and reporting mechanisms among training units.

"Every input, evaluation and lesson learned from the implementation of this programme will serve as the basis for further improvements so that it becomes safer, more professional and more accountable," Rico said.

Military training programme

The deaths occurred shortly after the launch of the Sarjana Penggerak Pembangunan Indonesia (SPPI) programme's 45-day training course, which began on 17 June and is scheduled to run until 31 July.

According to the Defence Ministry, 35,476 participants are taking part in the programme, comprising 30,000 prospective managers for the Red and White Village Cooperatives and 5,476 candidates for the Red and White Fishing Village Cooperatives.

The training is being conducted at 67 military training facilities across Indonesia.

Participants undergo 30 days of basic military training under the Defence Ministry's reserve component (Komcad) programme, followed by 15 days of managerial and technical training designed to prepare them to manage the cooperatives.

Rico previously said the programme aims to equip participants with "discipline, leadership, teamwork, integrity, a spirit of service and a strong work ethic."

The ministry also said participation in the SPPI programme is voluntary.

Government flagship initiative

The training programme supports President Prabowo Subianto's flagship Red and White Village Cooperative initiative, one of the government's largest rural development programmes.

The government plans to establish 80,081 cooperatives nationwide by 2029 to shorten food supply chains, reduce prices, improve access to financing and stimulate rural economic activity. Officials estimate the programme could eventually create more than 1.4 million jobs across Indonesia's rural regions.

The recent deaths have drawn renewed public attention to the programme's military component, which combines reserve-force training with management education for future cooperative leaders, prompting calls for a review of the training scheme, according to The Jakarta Post.

Meanwhile, military and Defence Ministry officials said evaluations of health supervision and programme implementation are ongoing.