IN THE MALEKULA ISLAND COURT
HELD AT LAKATORO/ MALEKULA
(Civil Jurisdiction)

Civil Case #. 26 of 2009
Judg. #

BETWEEN:

ANGELIME LELECTEI
(Original Claimant)

AND:

FRANCIS NAWOVE
(1st Counter Claimant)

AND:

ROGER NEMTENMAL
(2nd Counter Claimant)

AND:

FAMILY RENMAL
(3rd Counter Claimant)

AND:

FAMILY TAETSOGON
(4th Counter Claimant)

AND:

FAMILY SOVRINGMAL
(5th Counter Claimant)

AND:

ANATOL LINGTAMAT
(6th Counter Claimant)

AND:

FAMILY TOURSESREW
(7th Counter Claimant)

AND:

TETEHOR BERTRAND
(8th Counter Claimant)

AND:

TERRY RURUVANU
(9th Counter Claimant)

AND:

KENSI MALSETS
(10th Counter Claimant)

AND:

GRATIANO MALILIBAKREN
(11th Counter Claimant)

MATTER: 	DISPUTE OVER JIFLY TAETOL BLONG NASARA AMA

Coram: Jastis Douglas Fatdal
Jastis Shema Tasvaille
Jastis Endy Shem

Clerk: Wendy W. Raptigh

JUDGMENT

Brief backgraon blong case:

Civil Case # 26 of 2009 hemi wan customary matter concernem dispute long Jifly taetol blong Ama nasara, hemia long Walla Island. Case ibin go long trial from 14th – 18th March, 2011 hemia long Orap sub centre. Emia ol assessment mo findings blong Island Kot follem ol statement mo wokabaot insaed long nasara disputed. 

Issue: Whu ia long olgeta claimant ia igat raet long custom blong karem taetol blong Paramount Jif blong Ama nasara?

Summary long claim blong wanwan claimant:

Original claimant - Angelime Lelectei

OC emi klem Jifly taetol blong Ama nasara mo blad laen blong Jif ia Malburitsgon long family tree generation blong em mo talem se Jif Malburitsgon nao emi bigfala Jif blong Ama nasara. OC italem tu se common practice system blong Wala custom blong tekem up taetol blong Jif emi tru long blad laen. OC emi out long Lawor nasara long mainland mo kam settle long Wala smol island. OC italem se taem emi kam long Island ikat Mataru mo sam man oli stap finis. Long taem ia Maltaru wetem ol man blong em oli stap oli no kat custom. OC igo blong telem tu se emi kat wan relationship wetem wan existing nakamal nem blong em Jingdense. OC ino save mining blong ol kastom taetol blong Jif blong em mo emi pem land blong settle long long Mataru. OC ino save wanem Ama iminem mo ston we emi stap tokbaot emi stap long dispute wetem wan nara counter claimant. Long nasara emi soem wan ston we ievri namangi ikil insaed (igat 6 namangi performance).

Long nasara em kat tabu ston (sacrifice ston), nakamal, Lolamel (miting ples blong ol Jif) middle ston, royal grave, public grave, registration ston mo nem blong God – Tiefesgavul.

Counter Claimant 1 – Francis Nawor

Statement blong CC1, Kot ifinem se emi no claim Jifly taetol blong Ama nasara, be emi kam olsem wan witness blong Original Claimant. From reason ia Court emi putum out claim blong CC1 mo Kot iallowem CC1 blong tekem Oath olsem wan witness blong OC.

Counter Claimant 2 – Roger Nemtenmal

CC2 iklem bladlaen blong Jif long Ama mo emi klem se emi fes man we ikam long Wala island tru long woman ya Letangbor mo man blong em Warala. Sam long ol identity blong yu igat royal grave, ston blong registration, sacrifice ston, nakamal, kastom pasis, kastom stamp Nemtedar, Lolamel mo ples blong worshipim god.

Counter Claimant 3 – Renmal

CC3 emi klem kampani nakamal long Awol mo klem se ston we istap long foret blong nasara Ama emi blong Moksets we istap long family tree blong em. Emi klemem wan ples blong mekem laplap insaed long nakamal Awol we emi Butrol long lanwis. CC3 emi taelm se emi big Jif follem adoption blong raet. CC3 tu italem se common custom practice system blong tekem Jifly taetol emi follem blad laen nomo. CC3 iclearly talem se em kam long Tanmeliw (mainland). Taem generation blong em ia oli kam igat man istap finis. CC3 italem se Lido emi nogat Jif taetol taem emi kam long mainland be emi folem sista blong em. CC3 igat ston insaed long nasara, royal grave blong Moksets/Jungsets, pasis Awol ikat 2 pool; wan iblong ol man mo wan iblong ol woman, pasis blong canoe (Sanwer), nakamal mo ples blong sacrifice.

Counter claimant 4 – Taetsogon

CC4 istap clem Jifly taetol blong Ama nasara.

Taetsogon iklem Jifly taetol blong Ama tru long Nemtenmal we istap long family tree. Nemtenmal iolsem big Jif mo founda blong Ama.

Taetsogon ikat stone, be emi no soemlong ston blong tufala fes namaki nato mo namaki nawits. Even though, yu talem se Nemtenmal emi founda blong Ama be yu no save talem mining blong Ama. Lolamel emi ples blong miting. CC4 ibinn soem ples blong sakrifaaes long god Nemtenmal, mentionem se ol memory blong namaki we ikil long island oli stap tu long main lan mo yu soem nakamal blong yu olsem we yu talem.

Counter Claimant 5 – Family Sovringmal

CC5 emi klem Jifly taetol blong Ama nasara, mo kleim blad line follem generation blong Jif Ulrvanu. CC5 emi talem se igat tri olfala we oli statem Ama nasara mo oli kam aot long ol different tribes. Fes namangi blong Nato istap insaed long area blong nakamal Moru mo ino long wan nasara. Second namangi itekem ples yet insaed long area blong nakamal (Mare) be ino wan nasara long Wala island. CC5 italem se igat man istap long Wala finis especially abaot existence blong Vinus nakamal – olsem olfala Jri mo Tievasgavul we ino mentionem nakamal be talem se tufala iregistered long Ama nasara. CC5 iexplenem ston long big Jif blong em be ikat dispute ova long ston ia bitwin em wetem wan nara claimant. CC5 long nasara emi gat ston blong rain, ston blong quiet sea mo hariken, ston blong Navune, nakamal Moru/ Mare, ikat tamtam (Leren Wiatel), pasis Sanwir mo nem blong god we oli worship emi Nemtenmal.

Counter claimant 6 – Lingtamat

CC6 iklem blad laen blong big Jif blong Ama nasara.

CC6 i talem se ikam long main lan long Lawor nasara, Peteros. Long Ama nasara emi nakamal Vinos. CC6 istap klem blad laen blong Warala we emi klem se emi big Jif mo emi man Lawor 
Long nasara Kot inote se CC6 ibin explenem mo soem ol fes setting up blong ol ston we wanwan long ol big Jif we emi mentionem long statement blong em oli bin putum blong mekem stating blong Ama nasara. CC6 ibin soem 2 foundation ston we founder istanem ap blong establishment blong Ama nasara. CC6 isoem tu ston blong Warala mo tufala tamtam long medel blong nasara. Ston we yu klem se iblong yu evri nara claimant oli confemem tu se emi ston blong Lingtamat. Ol identity blong CC6 igat; ples blong sakrifaes long god Warala, fes nakamal Vare, eye blong leaf laplap, fes wota well, symbolity blong peace long Ama nasara we emi wael kava, royal grave, ston blong Jif, conference ples we ol nara claimant oli bin konfemem se emi miting ples, memory ples blong fes nasara bifo oli kam blong buildim Ama nasara mo Nale we emi lanwis nem blong smol island Wala.

Counter Claimant 7 – Family Tousesre

CC7 emi klem JIfly taetol blong Ama tru long custom raet. Emi no klem laen blad blong Jif we ifounder blong Ama be from laen generation blong Ama nasara emi finis o ded evri wan so emi second Jif responsible long Ama activities we emi tekem ova taetol ia. CC7 original ples blong em emi Unua long Hemertugan nasara. CC7 oli ol second tribe blong kam long Wala island. CC7 emi some ston blong Jif blong em long nasar emi stap long end long North. Ston ia igat dispute wetem narafala counter claimant. CC7 emi talem tu se common practice blong tekem taetom blong Jif emi base or folem laef blad or blad laen. Long nasara CC7 ikat arrival pasis, ples blong sacrifice, ples oli putum laplap long em, nakaml Tungunmet, Nawurdisebak, ston blongJif lo nasara, royal grave, kastom we CC7 ikam wetem long Unua, Parliament room (conference rum) mo nakamal blong man we iricifim hem nem blong em Fare. 

Counter claimant 8 – Tetehor Bertrand

Kot inote se klem blong Tetehor emi blong supportem nomo statement blong Original claimant. CC8 emi no klem se emi blad laen mo founda blong Ama nasara, wetem ol toktok blong em long statmen Kot ikam blong talem se Tetehor ino save kam olsem wan counter claimant be bae emi kam olsem wan witness blong Original claimant nomo.

Counter claimant 9 – Ruruvanu

CC9 emi no klem Jifly taetol blong nasara Ama be emi stap klem wan ston long Ama nasara se emi ston blong em.

CC9 ibin soem ston we emi stap klem mo emi situated long medel blong Ama nasara. Sam claimant oli talem se ston iblong yu mo sam nara wan oli se ston iblong Original Claimant. Ston blong yutufala istap long dispute.

Counter Claiment 10 – family Malets

CC10 emi klem bladlaen blong Maltoktok Bourkelkali blong Pelut nasara. Bourkelkali emi vlong Venus nakamal. CC10 emi sowem long Kot stone blong Burkelkali long Ama nasara.

Counter claimant 11 – Malilibakren

CC11 istap kleim Jifly taetol blong Ama Nasara. 

CC11 istap claim Jifly taetol anda long blad laen blong Burburlan we emi klem se emi fes man we ikam long Wala island.

Kot ilukim ston we Malilibakren iklem mo ol identity olsem; ston blong rain, sick navun, ples blong sacrifice, nakamal Mare, pasis Lelnerang mo Lolamel (ples blong miting).

Findings blong Kot 

Original Claimant

Kot ifinem se Mataru wetem sam pipol oli stap finis bifo arrival blong OC long Wala island. Kot ino biliv se ikat man finis be oli no gat custom. From long taem ia existing nakaml nem Jingdense we yuk at relationship wetem em long Wala island. 

OC ino save mining blong toktok ia Ama and how nao bae isave singaotem em se wan founder be no save custom mining blong Ama. 

OC ino save mining blong ol custom taetol blong generation blong em.

OC iklem 2 ston insed long Ama nasara be yufala ston ia istap long dispute wetem 2 narafala counter claimants. Wetem emia klem blong OC ifuldaon.

Counter Claimant 1 – Francis Nawor

Kot isakemaot klem blong em mo acceptem em ikam witness blong OC.

Counter Ckaimant 2 – Nemtenmal

CC2 iklem se emi stret blad laen long Warala be nomo em ino talem nem blong big Jif blong Potvalim. CC2 italem se emi kam stap long Lungerere olsem fes home blong em long Wala mo em gat 2 ston. Kot inote se Warala emi resifim Lelecteir be ino soem long Kot registration ston blong em. Kot inote se nem ia Warala ikat tu long sam family tree blong ol nara claimant. CC2 long position blong big jif long Nasara, Jif istap long medel. Namba blong hamas pig ikil CC2 ino save. CC2 ino save gud ol ston long nasara se blong whu ia whu ia be emi talem se olgeta we oli kilim pig long family tree blong em istat long Virane kam kasem Yorinmal.

Long visitem site Kot ifinem se sam long ol nara counter claimant oli stap klem sem ston we Nemtenmal iklem se iblong em. Wetem emia klem blong CC2 ifuldaon.

Counter Claimant 3 – Renmal

Kot ifinem se klem blong CC3 emi from company nakamal. Ston long foret blong nasara emi blong Moksets olsem we istap long Family tree blong em. CC3 italem wan ples blong laplap insaed long nakamal Awol nem Butrol olsem ol evidence blong custom raet blong em. CC3 istap klem adoption blong raet from wan tribe (purunbek) ikam long em. Yet CC3 iagree se custom system from taetol blong Jif position emi descended folem bladlaen. Blong addem tu se ikat existence blong man mo kastom finis bifo CC3 emi arrive long Wala island. Wetem emia klem blong CC3 ifuldaon.

Counter Claimant 4 – Family Taetsogon

Nemtenmal iolsem big Jif mo founda blong Ama be yu no clearify em long Kot wea ples Nemtenmal ikam long em mo nasara mo nakamal blong em long mainland. Long statement Nemtenmal ikat 2 pikinini boy be yu no save wea ples mama blong olgeta ikam long em or nem blong em. Long toktok blong yu igat 3 namaki ikil; namaki nato, namaki nawits mo namaki pig or bo. Be yu no clearify how nao yu kam blong kilim pig mo wea ples yu tekem ol pig blong mekem namaki long em from tu fes namaki ino gat pig long em. Wtem emia Klem blong CC4 ifuldaon.

Counter Claimant 5 – Family Souvrinmal

Kot ifinem se CC5 italem se 3 olfala oli founder blong Ama mo oli kam out long 3 diferrent tribes. Kot inote se igat 3 laef tribes long early age oli live long Wala be Kot iconfused blong finem se CC5 iperfomem 1st mo 2nd namangi insaed long wan nakamal we emi wan tabu area blong wan hae Jif according long nakamal custom preservation. Kot ifinem se igat laef emi brought up finis long Wala island long nakamal Vinus be ino gat nakamal we tufala (Iri mo Tievasgavul) iregistered long Ama nasara. Ston blong CC5 tu igat dispute long em wetem narafal counter claimant. Wetem emia klem blong CC5 ifuldaon.

Counter Claimant 6 – Anatol Lingtamat

CC6 i talem se ikam long main lan long Lawor nasara, Peteros. Long Ama nasara nakamal emi Vinos. Yu stap klem blad laen blong Warala we yu kleim emi big Jif mo emi man Lawor long Peteros nasara. Kot inote se yu fes man blong putum ston blong statem nasara Ama mo mekem bisnis blng tekem taetol blong big Jif long Ama nasara. CC6 i talem se oli kilim 5 namagi long nasara blong Ama. According long statemen Warala nao ifes man we ikam long Wala island wetem tabu faea blong em. Wetem emia Kot ikam blong apruvum klem blong CC6.

Counter Claimant 7 – Family Tousesre

CC7 ikam long Hemertugan nasara long Unua, South East part blong Malekula. CC7 iklem Jifly taetol long Ama be emi no bladlaen blong original hae Jif blong Ama, mo CC7 iklem taetol from emi second arrival tribe long Wala. Kot ino consider emia from CC7 yet iconfirm long Kot se Jifly taetol emi folem blad laen olsem we emi common practice long North East pat blong Malekula. Ston we CC7 iclaim se iblong big jif blong em igat wan nara claimant tu iklem se ston ia, so igat dispute long em. Wetem emia Klem blong CC7 ifuldaon.

Counter claimant 8 – Tetehor Bertrand

Kot isakemaot klem.

Counter Claimant 9 – Terry Ruruvanu

Kot inote se CC9 iwan man we iliv long Wala bifo be emi blong Atchin. Emi kam stap long Wala folem pupu blong em Ruruvanu we iout long Atchin mo stap long Wala. CC9 emi no klem Jifly taetol be emi klem ston long Ama nasara. Klem blong em ifuldaon.

Counter Claimant 10 – Family Malsets

CC10 istap klem ston blong Venus nakamal mo emi stap klem Maltoktok BOurkelkali long Pelut nasara be ino Ama olsem we istap bifo long Kot. Klem blong em ifail.

Findings Malilibakren CC11

Burburlan emi wan bladlaen blong Jif or no from long statement yu no clearify em mo tu yu no talem long statement se Burburlan ikam lo wea ples stret long Portvalim boundary. Kot inote se Malilibakren ikilim wan pig long ston blong em long Ama nasara. Long taem blong cross examination Kot inote se Malilibakren mo Lingtamat ikilim las namaki be ino clear se hamas pig tufala ikilim mo nem blong namaki we tufala ikilim. CC11 italem se emi kilim 6 namaki long Ama nasara mo Ama imin se AMARE. Wetem emia klem blong CC11 ifuldaon.

Law we Court I applaem:

CAP 167 (s.10) – Application of customary law

Subject to the provisions of this Act, an island court shall administer the customary law prevailing within the territorial jurisdiction of the court so far as the same is not in conflict with any written law and is not contrary to justice, morality and good order. 

Translate:

CAP 167 (s.10) – Kot hemi mas applaem kastom

Subject long seksen blong Act ia, aelan kot hemi mas aplaem kastom we istap insaed long eria blong paoa blong hem, spos oli no gat conflict wetem eni loa we oli stap raetem, mo no gat konflik tu wetem jastis, morality mo gudfala orda. 

Apply Law igo long ol findings:

Section blong Law we Court ia istap applyem tudei hemia antap – CAP 167 (s.10).
Long case ia tedei evri claimant oli agri se custom Jifly taetol hemi kamaot follem blad line, mo tu ol performances blong namangi ol ston mo ol pruf insaed long wan nasara. Long saed blong adoption sapos blad line ifinis evri wan then adoption long custom isave tekem raet.

Decision:

Wetem ol toktok ya Kot ikam blong mekem decision se; Counter Claimant 6 – Anatol Lingtamat ideclared tedei olsem high Jif from Ama nasara emia long Wala Island.

Ol claimant oli gat 30 deis blong appeal sapos oli no glad long decision ia.

DATED AT LAKATORO THIS 29TH APRIL, 2011.

BEFORE:

______________ 		______________ 		_______________ 	
Jastis Endy Shem		Jastis Douglas Fatdal		Jastis Shema Tasvaillie