Calls to End Military-Led Village Projects After 5 Deaths

Indonesia’s human rights commission and other rights groups are calling for an end to basic military training for prospective managers of the “Red and White Cooperatives” programme following the deaths of five participants. The casualties occurred within the first 10 days of a 45-day program designed to prepare staff for President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship village cooperatives initiative, according to reports from the Indonesian government and local media.

Why are rights groups calling for an end to the training?

Rights groups have called on the government to end basic military training for prospective managers. The program, which nearly 35,000 future cooperative managers must complete, is intended to support the establishment of 80,000 village cooperatives aimed at boosting national economic growth to 8 per cent by 2029. They are intended to sell basic goods, subsidised cooking gas and fertiliser.

What were the causes of the five fatalities?

The Indonesian Ministry of Defence, which is leading the training, reported that the five deaths occurred between June 17 and June 26. Major General Ketut Gede Wetan, head of human resource development at the ministry, attributed the deaths to a variety of causes including cardiac arrest, heat stroke, tuberculosis and pneumonia. The deceased participants have been identified as Anisa Muyassaroh, Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq, Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, Muhammad Rifki Renaldi Gunawan, and Nola Dya Sari.

How is the Ministry of Defence responding to safety concerns?

Despite the deaths, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the training will continue through July 31. Major General Ketut Gede Wetan stated that all participants had undergone medical checks before joining the training and all were cleared. He said the focus of the training was not on combat skills and involved no strenuous physical activity. The defence ministry said it would conduct a “comprehensive evaluation” of the training, which would include health monitoring, early detection of participants with health risks, and an adjustment to the intensity of the activities. The health ministry would also be involved in the training, it added.

Future trends in government-led labor training

The controversy highlights a growing tension in Indonesia. Future trends suggest that as the government pushes toward its 2029 growth targets, the integration of public health oversight—such as the newly announced collaboration with the Health Ministry—will likely become a standard requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the purpose of the Red and White Cooperatives? The program aims to establish around 80,000 village cooperatives across Indonesia to create jobs and meet the government’s target of 8 per cent economic growth in 2029. They are intended to sell basic goods, subsidised cooking gas and fertiliser.
• How many people are required to undergo this training? Nearly 35,000 future cooperative managers must complete the training.
• Will the training be canceled due to the deaths? No, the defence ministry said training would continue, adding that it had conducted a series of evaluations following the first two fatalities to strengthen safety and health monitoring of participants.