Key Facts on Village Cooperative Training Deaths

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The implementation of Basic Military Training (Latsarmil) for managers of Red and White Village Cooperatives and Red and White Fisherman Villages in Indonesia continues despite the occurrence of five participant deaths in the first ten days of the program.

The Head of Human Resources Development Agency of the Ministry of Defense, Major General Ketut Gede Wetan Pastia, defended the importance of this training as it concerns the strategic role of two priority programs of President Prabowo Subianto in strengthening the people's economy.

"Therefore, the formation of cooperative managers with character, integrity, discipline, and a spirit of kinship is an important part in supporting national development and defense widely," Ketut said in a press conference at the Ministry of Defense building in Jakarta on Saturday, June 27, 2026.

The first wave of Latsarmil took place from June 17 to July 31, 2026, with a total of 35,476 participants. They consisted of 30,000 candidates for managers of the Red and White Village Cooperatives and 5,476 candidates for managers of the Red and White Fisherman Villages.

Here are a series of issues during the implementation of Latsarmil:

5 Participants Deceased

Until the tenth day of the training, five participants were reported to have died. They are Nola Dya Sari, Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, Anisa Muyassaroh, Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq, and Muhammad Rifki Renaldi Gunawan.

Nola Dya Sari, who participated in the training at the Bela Negara Kalimantan Education Unit, passed away on June 26, 2026, after complaining of shortness of breath and fever. On the same day, Muhammad Rifki Renaldi Gunawan, a participant at the Para Command Battalion (Yonko) 465 East Jakarta, also passed away after experiencing similar complaints. Rifki was known to have a history of hypertension and obesity.

Meanwhile, a participant at the Center for Language of the Air Force Doctrine, Education, and Training Command, Jakarta, Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, passed away on June 23, 2026, due to active tuberculosis (TB).

Furthermore, Anisa Muyassaroh passed away a day after the start of the training, on June 18, 2026, due to heat stroke while participating in the training at the Main Regiment Education Unit of the Mulawarman Kodam, Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. Meanwhile, Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq passed away on the first day of the training, June 17, 2026, due to cardiac arrest.

Indication of TB Virus Exposure

After one participant was known to have died due to TB, the Head of Human Resources Development Agency of the Ministry of Defense, Major General Ketut Gede Wetan Pastia, stated that the organizers tracked participants as well as the training committee at the Air Force Doctrine, Education, and Training Command Center in Jakarta, to anticipate transmission.

Ketut stated that the tracking results found other participants exposed to TB so they had to be separated or isolated. According to him, their condition has been handled by medical personnel and is currently under control.

"I inform you that until now there has been separation, indeed some people are indicated to be infected with the virus (bacteria), but their condition is still safe and under control," Ketut said.

Ministry of Defense Does Not Prohibit 32 Pregnant Women from Participating in Latsarmil

The Ministry of Defense also revealed that 32 participants who were pregnant participated in the selection process until entering the Latsarmil program. Ketut stated that from the beginning, the committee did not prohibit pregnant women from participating in the recruitment.

However, they have now been sent back to their respective homes. The repatriation was done after considering the health situation at the education unit and for humanitarian reasons.

"Considering the health developments, for humanitarian reasons, 32 people in the first stage have been repatriated with a talent pool," Ketut said at the Ministry of Defense office in Jakarta on Saturday, June 27, 2026.

Dian Rahma Fika contributed to the writing of this article.

Read: Two Village Cooperative Manager Hopefuls Die During Military Training

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