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30 January – 3 February 2012 – Venued in meeting room of SKP-KAME, an initial meeting was held to prepare concept paper of a collaborative research between SKP-KAME with Sayogyo Institute (SAINS) based in Bogor, Samdana Institute based in Denpasar, and INSIST based in Yogyakarta. The meeting attended by Acting Executive Director of SKP-KAME, Harry Woersok, and some of his program staffs, Executive Director of SAINS, Dr. Laksmi Savitri; Senior Researcher of SAINS and Program Advisor of Samdana, Dr. Noer Fauzi Rachman; and Chairman of Executive Board of INSIST, Roem Topatimasang.

TOP: Roem Topatimasang facilitating discussion in meeting room of SKP-KAME | MIDDLE: Laksmi Savitri seriously listening to Gert Kaize, Vice Chairman of Customary Council of Okaba District, on the current situation of his village and people related to the implementation of MIFEE scheme | BOTTOM: Noer Fauzi Rachman on board of regular public boat crossing Kumbe River in his trip to Zanegi Village in Animha District, one of the village nearby huge concession areas of MEDCO Group (Photos: KIZITO HERU, YOS RENYUT)

Basic idea of the research is to find and formulate: [1] basic principles of sovereignty of local communities on land and their sources of life; and [2] alternative visions on sustainable development and the ways to achieve it according to specific context and particular needs of local communities. The research will collecting, codifying, and consolidating such principles and visions which is deeply rooted among people of main etno-geographic groups in Merauke area, particularly who are living in the villages situated nearby or directly affected by large scale investment projects. The research will also organize series of discussion and public consultation with various relevant parties such as local government officials, leaders of adat (customary councils), churches, and local universities or research institutions. It will also produce a number of documents and audio-visual media both as instruments of the research itself and as materials for further advocacy and campaigns to defend and promote basic rights of local communities, especially their rights on land, decent life and dignity.

If approved to be financed by Samdana Institute, all of the planned activities will be started soon for one year period. Laksmi Savitri of SAINS, as part of her post-doctoral research with University of Amsterdam on ‘land grabbing’ issue, will initiate her field investigation in the mid of February 2012. A videographer now is starting his preparation to produce audio-visual media and SAINS will deploy another full-time assitance to help SKP-KAME in managing all of research documents and proceeding reports. It was planned also to involve other two researchers, Dendy Sofiandi and Wika Rumbiak, who will carry out their field investigation in next April-May 2012, respectively on ‘mental map’ and ‘traditional wisdom’ of Marind People, as part of their doctoral dissertations in the School of Geography, Gajah Mada University of Yogyakarta**(BP)