Jakarta - Joining basic military drills, five university graduates have died between 17 and 26 June 2026 have died, Indonesian Defense Ministry officials confirmed on Saturday, 27 June 2026.
The victims have died at the Indonesian Military's (TNI) training facilities across Indonesia, as part of the government's Scholars Driving Indonesia's Development Program (SPPI) that's designed to prepare managers for President Prabowo Subianto's flagship Red-White Village and Urban VIllage Cooperative (KDKMP) and Red-White Fishermen Village (KNMP) schemes, prompting the Ministry of Defence to open a full review and drawing fierce criticism from rights groups and opposition politicians.
The five victims are: Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq, who died on 17 June from cardiac arrest; Anisa Muyassaroh, who died on 18 June from heat stroke; Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, who died on 22 June from active pulmonary tuberculosis; Muhammad Rifki Renaldi Gunawan, who died on 25 June; and Nola Dya Sari, who died on 26 June — both of whom experienced acute respiratory distress and elevated body temperature before being rushed to referral hospitals where they could not be saved.
(One of location where participants of the SPPI programs for the KDKMP and KNMP's candidate managers join basic military training (Photo/file/Defense Ministry))
The five were training at different TNI facilities: Yonanda at Puslatpur Kodiklatad Baturaja, Anisa at Dodikjur Rindam VI/Mulawarman Balikpapan, Novia at Pusbahasa Kodiklatau Jakarta, Rifki at Yon Para Raider 465 Halim Perdanakusuma, and Nola at Dodik Bela Negara Kalimantan.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Head of the Defence Ministry's Human Resources Development Agency Major General Ketut Gede Wetan Pastia confirmed the deaths and offered condolences.
"The five participants had different characters and medical conditions. All participants received medical treatment in accordance with procedures, both at unit health facilities and at referral hospitals," he said.
He added that the Ministry is committed to evaluating, improving, and refining the program to ensure it becomes "safer, more professional, accountable, and prioritises the safety of all participants.
(A class session for participants of the SPPI programs for the KDKMP and KNMP managers (Photo/file/Defense Ministry))
