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.

Kami, Kaoem Telapak yang adalah kumpulan anggota-anggota PerkumpulanTelapak, bercita-cita untuk mewujudkan keadilan antar unsur alam dan antar generasi dalam pengelolaan sumber daya alam hayati di Indonesia.  Tekad bulat ini dijabarkan dalam Gerakan Telapak untuk membela, berjuang, dan bekerja bersama petani, nelayan, dan masyarakat adat sebagai 3 konstituen utama, untuk membebaskan diri dari segala bentuk penindasan dan perampasan hak-hak azasi; serta mencapai kedaulatan secara politik, kemandirian secara ekonomi, serta kemartabatan secara budaya. 

Kaoem Telapak menyadari bahwa telah dan sedang terjadi pertentangan yang semakin menguat antara tujuan‐tujuan ekonomi dari pemanfaatan sumber daya alam hayati dan perlindungannya; menguatnya dominasi dan penguasaan atas pengetahuan dan informasi di tangan lembaga‐lembaga riset dan konservasi internasional; meningkatnya laju kerusakan ekosistem hutan dan laut;  adanya pemahaman yang berkembang bahwa konservasi adalah pengawetan alam yang “anti‐rakyat”, yang semuanya mengakibatkan kondisi masyarakat/komunitas di dalam dan sekitar kawasan sumber daya alam hayati yang semakin miskin dan terpinggirkan;  serta semakin gencarnya kooptasi sektor swasta dan korporasi industri ekstraktif terhadap gerakan perlawanan masyarakat sipil.

Mengamati perkembangan terakhir dalam Perkumpulan Telapak, kami menyadari adanya perubahan internal organisasi yang mengarah pada kecenderungan menjauhnya laku organisasi dari upaya perwujudan cita-cita Gerakan Telapak yang ditandai dengan pengingkaran visi misi dan nilai-nilai Telapak, terjadinya degradasi akuntabilitas, munculnya perilaku otoritarian dalam penyelenggaraan organisasi dan pengambilan keputusan, serta pengabaian terhadap anggota dan konstituen utama Perkumpulan Telapak.

Oleh sebab itu, dalam Musyawarah Besar dan Rapat Anggota tidak biasa dari Perkumpulan Telapak 2016 di Sarongge, Jawa Barat atau disebut juga Pertemuan Sarongge, Kaum Telapak kembali meneguhkan cita-cita dari Gerakan Telapak.

Selanjutnya, Pertemuan Sarongge mengeluarkan maklumat untuk:

1. Mengembalikan dan memperkuat Gerakan Telapak dengan mentransformasi organisasi menjadi Perkumpulan Kaoem Telapak. 
2. Dengan demikian maka bagi kami Perkumpulan Telapak telah bubar dan tidak ada lagi.
3. Segala hal yang berkaitan dengan peralihan organisasi akan ditindaklanjuti oleh alat-alat kelengkapan Perkumpulan Kaoem Telapak dengan cara yang sebaik-baiknya dan dalam tempo yang sesingkat-singkatnya.

Sarongge, 27 Mei 2016

Kaoem Telapak

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