Palau Trial Court this week, issued a ruling affirming claims of Charles Obichang and Elong Nakamura as strong members of the Ngerteluang clan of Ngeruloubl village of Airai State but state that their appointments as Iyechadrateluang and Ebiledil did not follow customary procedures and therefore flawed.
The court in the same judgment, invalidated a land deeded to Shallum Etpison by the counterclaimants of the title, Simeon Eberdong, Katsue Eberdong and other members of the Ngerteluang clan, stating that they did not have the consent of the strong members of the clan to deed out the land.
Two factions in the Ngerteluang clan were in Court to determine who were the strong members of the clan to bear the titles of Iyechaderteluang and Ebiledil of Ngerteluang and therefore, also have the authority over large tracts of lands awarded to Ngerteluang Clan in Ngerchemel, Mizuho and Siokumins in Airai State.
One side had appointed Charles Obichang as Iyechadrateluang and Elong Nakamura as Ebiledil. The other side had appointed Simeon Eberdong as Iyechadrateluang and Katsue Eberdong as Ebiledil.
Iyechaderteluang Simeon Eberdong and the ourrot on his side deeded over 200,000 square meters of the land won by Ngerteluang to Shallum Etpison after the certificates of title were issued for the lots.
Iyechaderteluang Charles Obichang and Ebiledil Elong Nakamura as plaintiffs filed an objection challenging the validity of the deed saying that they were the head of Ngerteluang Clan and did not consent to the deed.
Defendants Iyechaderteluang Simeon Eberdong, Shallum Etpison and the other members of the Ngerteluang Clan filed a counterclaim asserting their claim as strong members of the clan.
Court based its decision on an earlier case in 1973 where the title of Iyechaderteluang was also challenged. In that case, Elong Nakamura’s mother Ibul had appointed Baules Sechelong as Iyechaderteluang and this was challenged by Mekesong, grandmother of Simeon Eberdong and the court ruled then that Ibul was the stronger member of the Ngerteluang clan.
Defendants Simeong Eberdong and his faction contend that Ibul’s relations to the clan was not decided in 1973 court because both sides through a stipulation agreed to having Baules Sechelong as Iyechaderteluang.
Court declared that the 1973 case stated that Ibul was a stronger member because she was of the maternal line whereas Mekesong was of the paternal line.
Court proclaimed that the Charles Obichang and Elong Nakamura were stronger members of Ngerteluang Clan but because they did not follow the proper customary process for chief appointment, their positions as Iyechaderteluang and Ebiledil were flawed.
Court further asserted that the land deeded to Shallum Etpison by Simeon Eberdong, Katsue Eberdong and the other members of the Ngerteluang clan is not valid because it did not have the consent of the strong members of the Ngerteluang Clan. (L.N. Reklai)