CLOU on appointment by CVC

Changpang Land Owners Union (CLOU) while reacting to appointment of new CLOU office bearers by Changpang Village Council (CVC) termed it as “random statement” meted out by the CVC chairman, S. Thungchamo Odyuo and his associates.

In a press release, CLOU president Mhao Odyuo and general secretary Y John Kikon expressed “deep regret” that such statement by Odyuo and his associates has once again proved the “heights of filthy politics at the grassroots” and termed it as “very unfortunate”. 

The signatories said that CLOU was a non-governmental organisation and a separate body constituted in the interest of the general public of Changpang village. 

Having its own constitution with aims and objectives prioritising the core issues of Oil and Gas activities, they said the platform has continued pioneering to defend the rights of the ownership over the years. 

CLOU gave the following reasons based on which the union and the general body could challenge such “an alleged crime”- it said on November 23, 2014 nine points resolutions was adopted pertaining to CLOU by “mere” 27 members who bypassed and denied the rights and consent of the general body registered under CLOU.  They pointed out that the constitution clearly reads “on any matters related with Oil and Gas and its functions, the decision of the 2/3 majority of general body is final and binding”. 

The signatories said on the same day a notification was served to the chairmen of three major Clans i.e. Donphyaktsuri, Ezumontsuri and Limhathung (OYEK) to elect five members each from respective clans to represent the CLOU. This they said directly breached the constitutional provision of the CLOU, since the constitution has restricted the union to be non-political, communalism, clanism, tribalism, religious and castes whatsoever. 

It said that appointment of the new CLOU members exclusively by the village chairman without the knowledge of the general body and publishing it at a local daily directly violated the democratic system of election practised for years.

CLOU further said that these series of misconduct has infringed the constitutional provision of the CLOU for not serving the right to information to the existing union leadership and the general body composed of all Changpang citizens. 

Meanwhile, the signatories have urged upon the authority to cross-examine the fact and give just verdict to “null and void all misleading elements until public mandate is obtained and amicably settled”.