Key facts
- Indonesia's human rights commission recommended halting military training for managers of President Prabowo Subianto's cooperative program.
- Five participants in the 45-day training died within 10 days.
- Causes of death included cardiac arrest, heat stroke, tuberculosis, and pneumonia.
- The Defence Ministry stated participants were medically cleared and the training focused on non-combat skills.
- The commission requested a government investigation and forensic autopsies.
Indonesia's human rights commission has urged the government to halt basic military training for prospective managers of President Prabowo Subianto's flagship village cooperative program following the deaths of five participants. The training, which began on June 14, saw five individuals die between June 17 and June 26, with causes cited as cardiac arrest, heat stroke, tuberculosis, and pneumonia.
The commission argued that military training is unsuitable for cooperative managers, whose roles should focus on economic and business management, services to members, and organizational governance. Pramono Ubaid Tantowi, an official at the rights commission, stated that basic military training does not directly support the development of these competencies.
The Defence Ministry, which is overseeing the training, confirmed the deaths and stated that all participants had undergone medical checks and were declared fit. Major General Ketut Gede Wetan, head of human resource development at the ministry, added that the training did not focus on combat skills and involved no strenuous physical activity. The ministry announced it would conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the training, involving the Health Ministry, to improve health monitoring and activity intensity.
The commission also called for a government investigation into the deaths and requested police to seek forensic autopsies as part of any potential criminal investigation. President Prabowo, a former general, has been expanding military roles in civilian affairs as part of his administration's initiatives.