Red and White Cooperatives
The Red and White Village Cooperatives program is one of Indonesia’s biggest rural economy plans under President Prabowo Subianto. The idea deserves serious attention, because it aims to strengthen villages, improve distribution, and give local communities a stronger economic base.
But the deaths of five training participants have raised a different question. If the project is civilian and economic in nature, why should future cooperative managers undergo military-style training?
Red and White Village Cooperatives: A Strong Rural Plan
The wider goal of the program is not hard to understand. Indonesia wants village and sub-district cooperatives to become practical economic centers, especially outside big cities.
The government first described the plan in March 2025 as a push to establish cooperatives in around 70,000 to 80,000 villages across Indonesia. In July 2025, officials said more than 80,000 cooperative institutions had already been formed legally.
These cooperatives are meant to provide grocery services, member savings and loans for members, pharmacies, village clinics, cold storage, logistics, fertilizer, seeds, and the purchase or absorption of farm products.
A well-run village cooperative could benefit local communities by improving distribution, reducing reliance on middlemen, stabilizing prices, and strengthening food security and rural independence. The program’s economic logic is therefore sound.
Military Training Program for Cooperative Managers
Nearly 35,000 future cooperative managers were required to join a 45-day training program that began on June 14 and was scheduled to continue until July 31.
According to government officials, the program’s goal is to instill discipline, leadership, and organizational skills among cooperative managers.
However, not everyone agrees on the necessity of such military training and military-style discipline for managing cooperatives.
Casualties Raise Concerns
Indonesia’s human rights commission, Komnas HAM, urged the government to end the military-style training after five participants died.
The five deceased participants are Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq, Anisa Muyassaroh, Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, Muhammad Rifki Renaldi Gunawan, and Nola Dya Sari.
According to Detik’s report citing the Defence Ministry, the deaths occurred during training between June 17 and June 26 and were attributed to medical causes such as cardiac arrest, heat stroke, and respiratory or lung-related complications.
The deaths were not combat-related or linked to weapons training, but instead point to medical emergencies during the training environment.
Support the Project, Review the Training
The Red and White Village Cooperatives are a valuable initiative to strengthen villages and local economies. However, their success depends on civilian skills like management, logistics, and transparency rather than military-style training. Following recent deaths, reviewing the program is a necessary step to ensure safety and accountability. Ultimately, strong village development should be built on effective management, trust, and responsible governance.
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