Full Breakdown
Indonesia Human Rights Commission Calls to End Military Training After Five Deaths
6/28/2026, 10:05:55 PM
Fatal Training Incident Triggers Human Rights Appeal
On June 28, Indonesia’s National Human Rights Commission urged the government to stop the basic military training required for managers of President Prabowo Subianto’s “Red and White Cooperatives” programme. Five trainees died between June 17 and June 26, ten days after the 45-day course began on June 14.
Programme Overview & Key Actors
The “Red and White Cooperatives” initiative, launched in July 2025, targets about 80,000 village cooperatives that sell subsidised cooking gas, fertiliser and basic goods, aiming for 8 % economic growth by 2029. Nearly 35,000 future managers must complete the military-style training overseen by the Defence Ministry. President Prabowo Subianto, a former general, has promoted the civilian-military integration. The commission’s demand was voiced by Pramono Ubaid Tantowi; the training is led by Major General Ketut Gede Wetan.
Numbers at a Glance
- 5 trainee deaths (June 17-26)
- 45-day training (June 14-July 31)
- ~35,000 participants
- Goal: 80,000 cooperatives, 8 % growth by 2029
Official Statements & Responses
The Defence Ministry said the five deaths resulted from distinct medical conditions—cardiac arrest, heat stroke, tuberculosis and pneumonia—and that all trainees had cleared pre-training medical checks. It stressed the curriculum avoids combat drills and strenuous activity. A “comprehensive evaluation” will add health monitoring, early-risk detection and activity-intensity adjustments, with the Health Ministry participating. The commission called for a police investigation and forensic autopsies, arguing the training does not match the managerial skills needed for cooperatives.
Criticism & Opposition
Commission official Pramono Ubaid Tantowi contended that basic military training does not support the business-management, service or governance roles of cooperatives and urged the government to replace it with capacity-building in leadership, finance and operations.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The ministry attributes deaths to pre-existing conditions and cites medical clearance, while the commission’s demand for autopsies signals uncertainty about exact causes. The claim of non-strenuous training conflicts with heat-stroke fatalities, indicating a health-risk assessment gap.
Verbatim Quotes
- "The five participants have different medical conditions and received medical treatment according to the standard procedures." — Major General Ketut Gede Wetan, Defence Ministry
- "Basic military training does not directly support the achievement of those competencies." — Pramono Ubaid Tantowi, Human Rights Commission
- "The focus of the training was not on combat skills and involved no strenuous physical activity." — Major General Ketut Gede Wetan, Defence Ministry
- "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." — Defence Ministry statement
Next Steps
The Defence Ministry will launch the comprehensive evaluation with Health Ministry oversight. Police are expected to seek forensic autopsies, and the commission has called for a criminal investigation. Results will shape whether military training remains part of cooperative manager preparation.
