Post by : Shakul

Indonesia has scaled back its military-style training programme for prospective managers of President Prabowo Subianto's village cooperative initiative after five participants died during the first two weeks of training. The Defence Ministry said the revised programme will now place greater emphasis on leadership, discipline and teamwork instead of military exercises.

Training Modified After Review

The basic training programme began on June 14 and is being conducted for nearly 35,000 participants across several military training centres. Following an internal review, the Defence Ministry removed military tactics, weapons training and shooting exercises from the curriculum. Officials also said the physical intensity has been reduced to better suit civilian participants.

Why Was the Training Changed?

The programme was revised after five trainees died between June 17 and June 26. According to the Defence Ministry, the reported causes of death included cardiac arrest, heat stroke, tuberculosis and pneumonia. Officials said all participants had passed medical examinations before joining the programme.

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Programme Supports Village Cooperative Plan

The training is mandatory for candidates selected to manage the government's "Red and White Cooperatives" programme. The initiative aims to establish around 80,000 village cooperatives across Indonesia to improve rural employment, distribute essential goods and support the government's goal of achieving 8% economic growth by 2029.

Human Rights Commission Raises Concerns

Indonesia's National Human Rights Commission has urged the government to discontinue the military-style training for civilian cooperative managers. The commission questioned whether such training is appropriate for a programme focused on economic development and community services.

What Does This Mean for Indonesia?

The government's decision reflects growing scrutiny over the use of military institutions in civilian programmes. The revised training is expected to reduce health risks while allowing the cooperative initiative to continue. The case has also sparked wider discussions about balancing national development goals with participant safety and human rights.

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