As seen on Public Agenda Online

-International Group Alarms” Govt Keeps Silent 

Although Golden Veroleum’s propaganda machinery is nearly succeeding to put the Liberian under the impression that all is well in Sinoe County” particularly in areas the company is operating” including Bataw and Kpayan districts” reports from the county are extremely disheartening and need robust intervention by the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf regime.

The Golden Veroleum Concession agreement is amongst several signed by the Liberia Government which are causing problems for the locals instead of blessings.

But whether the government is fully aware of what is obtaining in the county or not” a Washington D. C. based international rights group under the banner” Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) has expressed disappointment over the failure or delay of the Sirleaf regime to address the continual reported arrest and harassment of community leaders in the county” which the rights group say must stop.   

In a dispatch from the United States of America dated December 20″ 2012″ the group alleged that four community leaders in Sinoe County have been arrested by local authorities over the past few days” calling into question the government’s commitment to protecting the rights of the indigenous communities.

“The arrests came after the community met with an international journalist to discuss how they lost their homes and cropland to Golden Veroleum (Liberia) (also known as GVL) for a 350″149 hectare oil palm plantation.”

“As the eyes of the international community are drawn again to yet another conflict in Liberia” local authorities need to stop the punitive arrests and extralegal harassment”” said Andy White” Coordinator of the RRI. “We are deeply disappointed at the lack of response by the national government” which has promised to protect citizen rights” yet has allocated over half the lands in the country to industries” often without the consent of the landowners.”

According to the rights group” there was an urgent need for a moratorium on GVL’s land acquisitions and an independent assessment of the crisis in Sinoe. “To its credit” the government has recently prepared a new land policy that would recognize and clarify the land rights of local people.  This crisis highlights the importance of the Liberian government’s rapid action on this policy.” The dispatch added.

Sinoe County police arrested Butaw Community members” Calvin Bloh” Dexter Gleeka” and Anna Tue without charge on Friday” 14 December” but released them the following day” according to Alfred Brownell” the community’s legal advisor. Benedict Manewah” another community member who lost his home to the GVL plantation” has been arrested this week without a warrant or formal charges filed. He has not been released yet.” The RRI alleged.

“What is taking place on the ground in Liberia mirrors a similar situation in Cameroon and many other countries” where local authorities side with national or international corporations to seize the communal lands of indigenous communities”” White alarmed. “Tragically” these affected communities would greatly appreciate economic development as long as it respects their land rights and does not decimate their livelihoods. There are plenty of examples in the world” where corporations have done so and maintained profitable operations and good community relations.”

According to the group” the Sirleaf regime has come under increasing scrutiny for land deals that ignore the rights and tenure of its poorest citizens.  “A recent report by the United Nations Panel of Experts on Liberia to the Security Council” for example” found that land conflicts created problems across agricultural and logging concessions and permits” and focused particularly on the case of GVL.”

The group noted that last month” an Indonesian Company” Sime Darby suspended operations at a separate 311″319 hectare concession for a palm oil plantation in Grand Cape Mount County in response to similar complaints.

“The pressure to respond to the complaints came not from the Liberian government” but from the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)” an international trade association whose members include GVL” Golden-Agri Resources Limited (a major investor of GVL)” Sime Darby” PepsiCo” Con-Agra” General Mills and Nestle (which just committed to purchasing palm oil from plantations that “respect the free prior and informed consent of local and indigenous communities”).

In the Liberian communities’ complaint to the RSPO” they stated: “We are living under constant fear of threats” harassments” intimidation and arrest because; we have refused permission for Golden Veroleum to take away our customary lands left to us by our ancestors.”

It is not certain whether the government would heed the concern by the group to prevent any looming crisis in the county or would choose to remain silent on the issue as if nothing is happening.

Meanwhile the rights group sounded a caveat that “these tragedies will continue as long as national governments keep handing out community lands” and are silent when their own laws are not respected”” White concluded. “These are communities with very little” except for the land under their feet. And even that is being taken away in the remote corners of the world where no one is standing guard on their behalf.”