Kaoem Telapak (Kaoem or KT) is an Indonesia-registered organization established in 2016 by former members of Perkumpulan Telapak (established in1996). Kaoem’s departure from Telapak meant the commitment to stay true to the ideal and vision of the original organization, to lead the works together with local and indigenous communities and other stakeholders towards a just and sustainable management of natural resources in Indonesia.
The members of Kaoem come from walks of life, including NGO activists, farmers, fishers, business practitioners, leaders of indigenous peoples, local parliamentarians and several others professions.
Currently there are 124 members of Kaoem who live throughout the country.
Kaoem is led by president and vice president that together with staff operate from secretariat in Bogor, West Java.
Kaoem addresses multi-sectoral issues and employs holistic approach to problems. Kaoem mainly works at national level, highlighting problems and advocating for improved policies. Kaoem also works to mainstream and mobilize support for sustainability and community-based livelihood initiatives.
Kaoem has vast experience of investigative works related to forest crime in Indonesia since 1997., in particular illegal logging and associated trade as well as destruction of forests for conversion. Together with our partner, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), we have been exposing the crimes and campaigning for effective law enforcement and improved policies in forest and land governance, and defending local and indigenous communities in fighting for their customary rights and defending theirs land from looting and destruction.
Kaoem has been actively involved in developing policies to address illegal logging such as the Indonesian Timber Legality Assurance System (SVLK) since 2003 and played an instrumental role in establishing and leading network of Independent forestry monitor (JPIK) to be acknowledged formally by the government. Kaoem has also been actively involved the Indonesia-European Union partnership agreement under Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) that is now operational and currently in the development of demand-side measures to halt global deforestation.
On top of continuing its campaigns on illegal logging and forest governance, Kaoem is currently campaigning to halt deforestation in Indonesia and improve governance of the commodities sector, in particular palm oil. In light with recent deregulation policies being implemented by Indonesia, Kaoem will be monitoring the impact of those policies to indigenous and local communities (IPLCs) and campaigning for policies reform together with networks of CSOs including farmers, fishers, indigenous peoples, workers whose livelihoods are threatened.
Kaoem is also working with its main beneficiaries, the farmers, fishers, and indigenous peoples to develop community-based livelihood initiatives based on local communities, supporting and strengthening as well as working together with them to manage their resources is key to achieve sustainable and just management of natural resources that will be beneficial for all.
Kaoem also endeavor to develop various IT and communication platforms and ways sustainable to support information exchange and consolidation among indigenous peoples, farmers and fishers that will lead to shared learning of traditional knowledge, economic activities, livelihood initiatives and strengthened solidarity.
ℹ The English version is a translation of the original in Bahasa Indonesia. In case of discrepeancy, the Bahasa Indonesia original will prevail.
We, Kaoem Telapak, a member of Perkumpulan Telapak, have a vision to achieve just natural management resources between nature and across generations to come in Indonesia. This solid vision is mentioned in Gerakan Telapak (Telapak Movement), to defend, fight and work in harmony with the farmers, fishers, and indigenous community as the 3 main constituents, to free themselves from all forms of oppression and deprivation of basic rights; and achieve political sovereignty, economic independence, and cultural dignity.
Kaoem Telapak acknowledged that it has been a conflict which growing intensely on the economic interest and exploitation of the natural resources and their protection; strengthening the domination and mastery of knowledge and information in the hands of international research and conservation institutions; increasing the rate of forest and ocean ecosystem destruction; there is a growing perception that conservation is the preservation of nature which is “anti-people”, all of which result in the condition of the people/communities in and around the area of living around it, are getting poorer and marginalized; and the intensified co-optation of the private sector and extractive industry corporations against civil society resistance movements.
Having reflected on the latest state in Perkumpulan Telapak, we realized that there was a significant change in the internal organization which may harm and even pulled off away from the vision of Gerakan Telapak, marked by the denial of Telapak’s vision, mission, and values, degradation of accountability, the emergence of authoritarian behavior in organizing the organization and decision-making, as well as ignoring members and main constituents of the Perkumpulan Telapak.
Therefore, in the 2016 through General Meeting and Extraordinary Member Meeting of the Perkumpulan Telapak in Sarongge, West Java, also known as the Sarongge Meeting, Kaoem Telapak reaffirmed the vision of the Gerakan Telapak.
Furthermore, Sarongge Meeting has made an statements, as follows:
- Restore and strengthen the Gerakan Telapak by changing the organization to Perkumpulan Kaoem Telapak.
- Having mentioned above, we declare that Perkumpulan Telapak has been dismissed and did not exist anymore.
- All matters related to the organizational transition, will be followed up by the Perkumpulan Kaoem Telapak’s administration at the earliest possible date.
Sarongge, May 27th 2016
Kaoem Telapak
List of Signatories:
Abdon Nababan, Abdul Halim, Abdul Khair Wattimena, Abdul Maal, Abu Meridian, Acho Mulyono, Ade Ma’mun, Adhie Masturiatna, Agus Sumantri, Ahmad Mundir Hasyim, Ahmad SJA, Aksan DN, Alexius Tege, Ali M. Basrin Salampessy, Ambrosius Ruwindrijarto, Anggit Saranta, Annas Radin Syarif, Antoinette G. Royo, Arbi Valentinus, Arifin Saleh, Arsyani Maruapey, Berdin Manus, Budi Hartono, Chandra Kirana, Christian P.P. Purba, Cipto Aji Gunawan, Dion Dharmarini, Dwi Lesmana, Een Irawan Putra, Elisabet Suwartini, Erna, Ery Damayanti, Eti Kartina, Febrilia Ekawati, Funy Murdianti, Galih Prasetya Utama, Gede Yudarta, Gilung, Gondok, Hamsuri, Hanung Suseno, Hariyanto, Hariyono, Harry Kartiwa, Heri Susanto, Hisam Setiawan, I Nyoman Triada, I Nyoman Trijaya, Imanche Al Rachman, Ir. Sri Endang Sukarsih, MP, Jafri, Jakariya Saputra, Johanes Jeanito, Jomi Suhendri Saputra, L. Prima Wira Putra, La Ode Mangki, Laiyen Darmayanti, M. Muslich, M. Nur, M. Seting Beraan, M. Zainuri Hasyim, Mardi Minangsari, Mariaty A. Niun, Martinus Pramono, Matulandi Supit, Mina Susana Setra, Minnie Rivai, Mudzakir, Muhammad Ichwan, Muhammad Kosar, Muhammad Sidik, Muhammad Yayat Afianto, Nanang Sujana, Natanael Ginting, Nawa Irianto, Ni Nengah Ariasih, Nuraeni, Nuruddin HAS, Nurwiati, Panji Wijaya, Patmawati, Petrus Asuy, Ponidi, Pontas Sitanggang, Prasetya Aan Wibowo, Pujo Wibowo, Putro S. Kurniawan, R. Moh. Rais, Rainny B. Natalia Situmorang, Ratu Balqis, Ridzki Rinanto Sigit, Rika Agustina, Rina Agustine, Rita Sri Mustikasari, Rizal Mahfud, Rizman Azmi Aziz, Ruby Vidia Kusumah, Rukka Sombolinggi, Rukmini Paata Toheke, Salim Maruapey, Sandika Ariansyah, Sarie Wahyuni, Sheila Kartika P.P., Shodik Purnomo, Simpun Sampurna, Sirajuddin, Smuraja Difinubun, Suhardi, Suko Wiyono, Supangat, Susanto Kurniawan, Syukur Toheke, Togu Manurung, Vandi Wattimena, Victor A.Z., Wancino, Weni T.L. Toheke, Willem Pattinasarany, Wishnu Tirta Setiadi, Yoyon Mujiono, Yuyun Indradi, Zainur Rohman, Zulfahmi
