Ibedul succession dispute: Difference between revisions
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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[[File:Yutaka Gibbons.jpg|thumb|left|[[Yutaka Gibbons]] {{circa|1978}}]] |
[[File:Yutaka Gibbons.jpg|thumb|left|[[Yutaka Gibbons]] {{circa|1978}}]] |
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Gibbons worked as a [[United States Army]] cook before becoming Ibedul and ran for [[President of Palau|president]] in the [[1984 Palauan general election|1984]], [[1988 Palauan general election|1988]] and [[1996 Palauan general election]].<ref name="New York Times"/> He was also a anti–nuclear weapons activist and won the [[Right Livelihood Award]] in 1983.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rightlivelihood.org/the-change-makers/find-a-laureate/high-chief-ibedul-gibbons-and-the-people-of-belau/|title=High Chief Ibedul Gibbons / The People of Belau|access-date=June 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231229142928/https://rightlivelihood.org/the-change-makers/find-a-laureate/high-chief-ibedul-gibbons-and-the-people-of-belau/|archive-date=December 29, 2023|url-status=live|website=Right Livelihood}}</ref> |
Ibedul [[Yutaka Gibbons]] died in [[Taiwan]] on November 4, 2021 at the age of 77.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://islandtimes.org/paramount-chief-ibedul-yutaka-gibbons-pass-away-in-taiwan/ | title=Paramount Chief Ibedul Yutaka Gibbons pass away in Taiwan | date=November 5, 2021 |access-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323231015/https://islandtimes.org/paramount-chief-ibedul-yutaka-gibbons-pass-away-in-taiwan/ |archive-date=March 23, 2023 |url-status=live |website=Island Times}}</ref> Gibbons had worked as a [[United States Army]] cook before becoming Ibedul in 1973 and ran for [[President of Palau|president]] in the [[1984 Palauan general election|1984]], [[1988 Palauan general election|1988]] and [[1996 Palauan general election]].<ref name="New York Times"/> He was also a anti–nuclear weapons activist and won the [[Right Livelihood Award]] in 1983.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rightlivelihood.org/the-change-makers/find-a-laureate/high-chief-ibedul-gibbons-and-the-people-of-belau/|title=High Chief Ibedul Gibbons / The People of Belau|access-date=June 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231229142928/https://rightlivelihood.org/the-change-makers/find-a-laureate/high-chief-ibedul-gibbons-and-the-people-of-belau/|archive-date=December 29, 2023|url-status=live|website=Right Livelihood}}</ref> |
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==Dispute== |
==Dispute== |
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Revision as of 15:42, 31 December 2023
There was a dispute [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]
Background
Ibedul Yutaka Gibbons died in Taiwan on November 4, 2021 at the age of 77.[12] Gibbons had worked as a United States Army cook before becoming Ibedul in 1973 and ran for president in the 1984, 1988 and 1996 Palauan general election.[13] He was also a anti–nuclear weapons activist and won the Right Livelihood Award in 1983.[14]
Dispute
In December 2021, Bilung Gloria Salii stated that she had assumed the duties and responsibilities of Ibedul and claimed she should be receiving a monthly honorarium.[4] She wrote a letter to the Governor of Koror Franco Gibbons, who also holds the title of Ngiraikelau which is the 2nd highest ranking title in Koror, requesting that the monthly honorarium of Ibedul be issued to her name.[4] Governor Gibbons's attorney said that the law of Koror dictated that the honorarium be paid to a person that "actually holds a title and and sits as a member of the House of Traditional Leaders" and that if there is more than one claimant to the title the honorarium is held until the court decides who the proper holder of the title is.[4] Bilung also informed the Council of Chiefs that she had token over the duties with the council simply stating "that they look forward to the submission of the name of the next Ibedul."[4] The Island Times noted that it is rare for a keldorolel a rubak (female counterpart) to assume the title of their male counterpart and that it is the first time that this has occurred in the position of a paramount chief in Palau.[4]
On January 6, 2022, Salii sent a letter to the House of Traditional Leaders, in which she told them that she had removed the title of Rechucher-ra-Techekii from her brother Alexander Merep and removed him from the House of Traditional Leaders.[10] A similar letter from Rimuu Dominica Ngoriak removed Harry Fritz from the house by removing his title of Adelbairekesoaol.[10] Ten chiefs of the house, 6 Ngarameketii, and 4 Rubekul Kldeu, sent letters to both Bilung and Rimuu asking why they were expelling their "friends", saying that they had been loyal and productive members of the house for years.[10] Salii sent another letter to Ngiraikelau Gibbons stating "I am Ibedul and Bilung at this time. I call the meeting of the council of chiefs."[10] She also told Gibbons that Merep had been removed from his seat and should not be asked to attend chief meetings.[10] The new Governor of Koror Eyos Rudimch wrote a letter to Salii requesting time to review her request for the honorarium of Ibedul.[10] Rudimch stated that he had "no say on the matters of [the] Idid clan or its chiefs" but since the issue relates to the law, he has to conduct a legal review.[10]
References
- ^ "A Former U.S. Army Cook, Now Ruler in. Western Pacific Islands: Leads Foes of Military Bases There". The New York Times. 14 January 1979. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
- ^ Times, Island (May 17, 2022). "Bilung claims Ibedul is highest title in Palau, rejects Alex as Ibedul". Island Times. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
- ^ Reklai, Leilani (February 25, 2022). "Ngarameketii accepts Merep as Ibedul". Island Times. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Reklai, Leilani (December 31, 2021). "Bilung assumes Ibedul title and claims compensation". Island Times. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- ^ Reklai, Leilani (February 4, 2022). "HOTL resumes business after Bilung yielded". Island Times. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- ^ Reklai, Leilani (March 15, 2022). "$20k plus 5 Palauan monies at Merep's omelobech as Ibedul; Littler obtain's Ibedul "crown" in Peleliu". Island Times. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- ^ Times, Island (March 11, 2022). "Merep installed as Ibedul with Ngarameketii". Island Times. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- ^ Reklai, Leilani (April 5, 2022). "Palau Council of Chiefs accepts Alex Merep as Ibedul". Island Times. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- ^ Reklai, Leilani (April 29, 2022). "Council of Chiefs notifies national leadership of the new Ibedul". Island Times. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Reklai, Leilani (January 18, 2022). "Bilung as Ibedul takes control of HOTL". Island Times. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- ^ Reklai, Leilani (March 25, 2022). "HOTL accepts 4 new chiefs". Island Times. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- ^ "Paramount Chief Ibedul Yutaka Gibbons pass away in Taiwan". Island Times. November 5, 2021. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
New York Timeswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "High Chief Ibedul Gibbons / The People of Belau". Right Livelihood. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
Category:2021 in Palau
Category:2022 in Palau
Category:Controversies in Oceania
Category:Ibeduls of Koror
Category:Succession