President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is deeply troubled at the apparent reckless abandon to violence by individuals who wish to create unnecessary tension and terror in the country, thereby undermine government’s efforts to secure a peaceful and stable environment for its people, in order to attract the necessary image that would encourage foreign investment in the country.

			• Mr. Cyrus Wleh Badio Photo: Executive Mansion

Presidential Press Secretary Cyrus Wleh Badio told reporters in Monrovia Monday that the President, who is currently in Israel on a state visit has been briefed by the Justice Ministry and other law enforcement authorities of the unfortunate incidents in Grand Bassa County on Saturday.

Mr. Badio said the President  has sent the strongest message to the authorities concerned to get to the bottom of the incident and restore sanity, order and the rule of law in the area.

Deepest sympathy

“The President expresses deepest sympathy and condolence to the family of the Belgian national, Bruno Michiel; the Management and staff of the Liberia Agriculture Company (LAC) for the loss of a dear and young life of someone who has shown remarkable commitment to the improvement of the lives of the people of Grand Bassa. For his life to be cut short in this barbaric manner, is deeply regretted and totally unacceptable.”

Badio said the government wishes to reassure the general public that the weekend incidents will not go unpunished; the pepertrators will be rounded up, as it is already been done and they will face the full weight of the law at the earliest.

“The President also wants to assure the Liberian people that these calculated attempts to frustrate government’s efforts by instilling fear and insecurity among our people, thereby discouraging private investment in the country will not succeed. Her determination to pursue the development agenda of the country remains unwavering.”

The government says at least six suspects have been arrested so far for their alleged involvement into two separate criminal activities during the weekend in Grand Bassa County.

Of the six, three were arrested for the killing of the Plantations Manager of Liberia Agriculture Company (LAC), Bruno Michiel shot at close range in District #3, Grand Bassa County; while the other three were involved in a Global Bank car highjack taking away US$150,000 along the Owensgrove/Buchanan Highway.

Deputy Information Minister Gabriel Williams said a principal of the Zodo Mission School, Crusoe, was among those arrested in the LAC incident for issuing death threats on the plantation.

He also said that one of the two taxis 2784 TX and 1260 TX allegedly used in the Global Bank armed robbery attack have been arrested and impounded. The two drivers are now in detention at the Buchanan Police Station, while a town chief in the Owensgrove vicinity who was given some of the booty surrendered to the police. He is assisting the police with the investigation.

Global Bank funds seized in robbery

The Global Bank was taking the funds to LAC to pay employees of LAC. Minister Williams said the joint security including UNMIL has begun investigation into both incidents.

He disclosed that as a result of the growing wave of armed robbery in the country, the Justice Minister has put into place a robust response to bring the situation under control.

The Deputy Information Minister for Public Affairs said Justice Minister Philip A.Z. Banks has instructed the police to use maximum force in dealing with the armed robbery incident.

“Justice Minister banks would have me inform parents especially mothers to advise their children that if you go out there and engage in criminal activities especially activities involving armed robbery the maximum force we are talking about, you’ll meet the full force of the law,” he said.

He revealed that upon the return of the National Legislature from its agriculture break, the Republic of Liberia will propose a legislation that will make armed robbery a first degree felonious crime.

“The RL through the Ministry of Justice will be proposing new legislation that will make armed robbery an un-bailable crime. It would be an offense ‘first degree felony’ and with hasher penalties including life imprisonment.

Meanwhile, the Liberia Agriculture Company has announced that it was shutting down its operations for time indefinite following the death of the Plantations Manager at the weekend, Bruno Michiel; this also includes its schools, health facilities and other services on the plantation.

LAC’s Purchasing and Shipping Manager, Edwin Nelson who made the announcement said that no wages would be paid to the workers of the company and the company would also purchase or ship rubber during the period of the closure. Mr. Nelson said the killing of the Belgium national was an indication that the lives of staff on the plantation had come under increased threat.

A few days ago, the LAC and the government of Liberia signed an agreement to undertake a US$22 million expansion program; however, there has been some resistance to this. A group known as the “resilient council” is opposed to LAC’s expansion program which they claim to be their ancestral homeland.

Petition cited

Its Chairman, Albert Kangar said the timeframe given LAC has since expired. He said there was a petition written to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf expressing their dissatisfaction over the extension of the company because they are referred to as squatters.

Speaking with journalists, Mr. Karnga noted that the people of Grand Bassa County were never a part of discussion leaving to the signing of the extension of LAC but rather a handful of people representing the county. LAC, established in 1959, is the second largest rubber company in the country providing jobs for about 4,500 Liberians and expatriates.

In another development, Badio said the President has also extends heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Bangladesh for the loss of more than 2-thousand lives that Asian country suffered as a result of devastating cyclone which hit the country last week.

Our prayers go out to the bereaved families in Bangladesh as they mourn the loss of their loved ones.  “The government of Bangladesh continues to play a leading role in peace keeping efforts in the country.

The country’s peace keepers have gone beyond the normal peace keeping duties by getting involved in other national development initiatives including agriculture and reconstruction of various road networks in the country, among other initiatives.

It is the President’s prayer that as the people of Bangladesh undergo this difficult moment, Allah will grant them courage and fortitude to endue the tragedy.”

LAC Saga Resurrected: Belgian Shot Dead in Liberia, 17 in Custody

Just days after the management of the Liberian Agriculture Company(LAC) and the Liberian government signed an agreement to carry on an expansion in the area, confusion between residents of Grand Bassa County’s Districts #3 and 4 and the management of LAC has once again resurfaced, leading to the arrests of several residents and a reigniting a disturbance which led to the fatal killing Saturday of a Belgian citizen at the LAC compound in District Number Three and the arrest of the Principal of the Zono Public School, Arthur Cruzo and seventeen other suspects tied to the killing.

Bruneo Michael, the manager of LAC was found dead early Saturday morning, reigniting a controversy that haunted the predecessors of the current government. Bruno’s body was reportedly found near the area where the current survey and expansion of LAC has been taking place. Police reportedly found an empty shell of a single barrel gun in the vicinity of the crime scene. 

So far at least 17 suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing of the Belgian expatriate staff. But Assistant Information Minister for Public Affairs Gabriel Williams told reporters that at least one of one of the robbery suspects spoke little English and was likely French-speaking.

Mr. Williams also stated that the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) forces and the Liberian national police will use "maximum force" against armed robbery, and that crimes involving arms would carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Seventeen in custody, killing under probe

Eyewitness told FrontPageAfrica Sunday that since the signing of the agreement, some residents have taken unkindly to LAC authorities pressure to remove residents from the area, leading to  Michael's death in the process.

 “Whether that was in connection with the planned demolition or whether it was armed robbery, we don’t know but authorities are arresting everybody and every person that they found in any village in the area,” one eyewitness said. “There are at least 17 persons in jail in the police cell in Buchanan. They are not being fed and I don’t know for sure but there are rumors that some of the people have been manhandled.”

Assistant Information Minister for Public Affairs Gabriel Williams told reporters Sunday that Michael was attacked by unknown assailants while surveying land for the company's planned expansion.

In the wake of last weekend's disturbance, LAC has shut down operations indefinitely, including the closure of school and health facilities at the Plantation Manager in District Number Three where the latest incident occurred.

According to the new agreement, signed last week, LAC will  spend US$500,000 to build 200 housing units, a school and a clinic for about 100 family heads from 12 villages in the two districts.

At the signing ceremony, Agriculture Minister Dr. Chris Toe and Internal Affairs Minister Ambullai K. Johnson signed on behalf of the Liberian government. Johnson, is running the affairs of the country during President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s current visit to the Middle East. LAC is one of five plantations in Liberia, which include: Cavalla, Firestone, Guthrie.

The killing of the Belgian national also followed the arm robbery of a van belonging to Global Bank, conveying money to Grand Bassa County. According to Deputy Information Minister for Public Affairs, Gabriel Williams, Global Bank van was carrying one hundred fifty thousand U.S. dollars to LAC. 

Williams says the government’s security has made numerous arrested including one of the vehicles used in the highway robbery.  It is not clear whether the seventeen arrested last weekend include robbery and murder suspects from separate incidents tied to the LAC controversy.

But during the signing ceremony last week, Agriculture minister, Toe assured the citizens of the two districts that the houses will be completed before the company begins its expansion program.

He said the company will also employ people from within the area to carry on its expansion work, while government will ensure that LAC lives up to the terms of the agreement. “We estimate that as a result of this expansion, 2,000 children belonging to those who will be working will now be able to gain access to free education and to free health. Government will meet up with its obligation.”

Speaking on behalf of the company, Dr. Samuel Bennett said they were happy that finally they had reached an agreement with the inhabitants of the two districts for the development of their county specifically and the Liberia in general.

Bennett admitted during the signing that while the LAC management was not happy because of the minimum profit over a period,  the country stands to benefit with the help of all its partners to grow. He noted that LAC will provide a minimum of 900 permanent jobs for the inhabitants during its expansion exercise. But despite the agreement, residents are said to be refusing to budge and are seeking more.

Petition warned of consequences

The petition said: “Every Liberian whom LAC has evicted from his/her homeland, or otherwise removed there from, is allowed to return to their various villages. The government establishes a Committee consisting of citizens of Grand Bassa and River Cess Counties, whom the affected people, victims of LAC expansion program, would name, to establish compensation benefits for all those who have been affected by the criminal acts of LAC.

The government begins the process of negotiation with LAC, as recommended in the Rubber Committee’s Report to define the boundary of LAC’s Concession, providing LAC with additional land for its Concession, as may be necessary. The premise for the granting of additional land to LAC should be that it would be granted only uninhabited land in Grand Bassa and River Cess Counties or such other part of Liberia. “

The elders also urged the government to consider ensuring that the Agreement is “in line with Liberia’s obligations in terms of national and international law.” In addition,” that they “reflect contemporary responsible business practices”, as recommended in the Rubber Committee’s Report.”

The elders continued: “Madam President, should LAC refuse or otherwise fail to take the necessary remedial actions to correct the wrongs it has committed and continue to commit against our people, we reserve the right to institute legal actions against LAC and affiliated companies, as well as its agents in the courts of Liberia and such international for as justice would necessitate.”

Mechanized rice producers in turmoil - again

Since 1966, LAC has been producing mechanized upland rice which was first introduced in 1966 in Liberia at the company’s facilities in Salomba-, about 30 kms north-west of Foya, along the Makona river where LAC had established a mechanized rain-fed rice production scheme on 200 ha of bottom land on request of the Liberian government.

LAC was one of the international general trading companies in Liberia, exporting Liberian agricultural commodities, such as sheet rubber, coffee, cocoa and palm kernels and importing equipment for the plantations and mining companies in the country. Due to the distance from LAC headquarters in Monrovia, the entire Salomba operation was done by air.

Rice seeds, fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides were all sown from small agricultural planes. This reduced staff time in the field to a minimum and avoided the need for expensive farm-roads. Only harvesting was done on the ground by using special combine harvesters with low pressure crawler tracts.

On March 1959, the Liberian government and the Liberian Agricultural Corporation (LAC) entered into a Concession Agreement (the “Agreement”) whereby the Government granted LAC certain concession rights. In accordance with the Agreement, the government made available to LAC about 600,000 acres of land from which it was supposed to select its Concession Areas. Article II of the Agreement provides, inter alia, that:

The two areas within which the Corporation [LAC] may operate under the Concession, herein called the “Concession Areas”, are shown on a map of the Republic attached hereto and made a part hereof and consist of: 

The land lying between the St. Johns River and the Cestos River South of Compound No. 3, Grand Bassa County and including approximately 300,000 [acres]; and a section of the lands situated along the Tappita-Webo Road and including approximately 300,000 [acres].

As part of the agreement, the Corporation agreed to make an examination of the aforesaid areas to determine the lands therein which may be suitable for the development of economical and progressive operations under the Concession and as a result of such examination, it shall file with the government, within eighteen (18) months from the effective date of this Agreement, one or more surveys, setting forth the geographical boundaries of said areas as they are determined to be suitable for exploitation.

One of the reasons that LAC was required to examine areas prior to selecting them, as part of its Concession Areas, was to ensure that the areas selected were uninhabited. Article II of the Agreement further provides that the “Concession Areas” of LAC shall mean only “the areas comprised within such surveys.”

According to the elders’ petition, excluding the 30,000 acres of LAC’s Concession Areas, the Government has, since September 2, 1960, the end of the survey period, sold, and individuals have bought, national and public lands within the 600,000 acres, Grand Bassa-River Cess and Tappita-Webo, 300,000 of which LAC is now claiming unauthorizedly, as its Concession Area in Grand Bassa and River Cess Counties.

“More importantly, historical villages of the Bassa people have existed within the 300,000 acres of Grand Bassa and River Cess Counties prior to the founding of the Republic of Liberia, and others have since developed, all within areas not survey and selected by LAC for its rubber plantation. Contrary to Liberian laws and international conventions, LAC has and is continuing the forced eviction of native people from their ancestral lands.”

The elders content that realizing that LAC would not survey and select the entire 300,000 acres in Grand Bassa and River Cess Counties, Article II further provided that, “the Corporation [LAC] at any time hereafter may approach the Government with the request that the Concession Agreement be reviewed with the object of acquiring additional or new acreages.”

Inhumane action uncalled for, elders say

The elders petition furthered that since August 2004, when LAC commenced its illegal expansion project by giving the Bassa people six-day notice to vacate their ancestral homeland and at the end of such notice periods, bulldozers and other heavy-duty tractor equipment are carried into the villages by LAC, and homes are demolished, crops destroyed, ancestral burial plots, and their secret shrines desecrated. “Needless to mention, that LAC forcibly evicted the people of Bassa and disrupted their lives contrary to the rule of law.”

According to the elders, the justification given by LAC for its inhumane action was that the villagers, who had lived on the land before Liberia was founded, were “squatters” within “LAC’s Concession Area.” As LAC evicted villages, they offered tokens to the villagers, which LAC called ex gratia payments, because the people were “squatters” within “LAC’s Concession Area.”

The elders petition further states that when LAC began its illegal expansion in 2004, forcibly seizing land from our people, a complaint was launched to the government through Superintendent Robert T. Vonyeegar, but to no avail. “We made another appeal by letter to Chairman Charles Gyude Bryant through the Bassa Legislative Caucus. The Chairman did not even acknowledge the receipt of the letter.”

Disappointedly, the elders continued, Superintendent Vonyeegar, upon order of the then Minister of Justice, Kabina Ja’neh, led an array of riot police, which invaded towns and villages in District No. 4. In spite of the fact that District No. 4 is on the other side of the LAC Plantation beyond the “Slo River”, they seized ninety-three (93) innocent elders, chiefs and other community leaders, children, and the community’s “masks dancer” commonly known as the “country devil”.

“Those arrested were beaten, stripped half naked and detained in LAC’s cell for two days with no food. Later, they were transported to Buchanan and chunked into a 10ft. x12 ft. police cell in Buchanan,” the elders contend.

In the wake of the incident, the elders note that upon, the leaders of the Bassa Concerned Citizens Movement and Resilient Council of Elders of Bassa contacted the Green Advocate Inc, who sent four human rights lawyers headed by its President, Alfred Brownell.

Thus, in a timely manner, they filed a Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for the immediate release of those ninety-three persons. It worked, and the poor people were released.

Nevertheless, the elders contend, the incarceration and gross human rights abuse of the ninety-three indigenous and disadvantaged people of Grand Bassa County precipitated international pressure to be mounted on the National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL). “In order to save face, a special fourteen-person committee (the “Committee”) was appointed by the Chairman of the NTGL to investigate LAC’s expansion program and the consequences thereof.”

The Committee reportedly mandated the Minister of Justice to have LAC halt its expansion program until the committee completed its job. But LAC refused, and continued its destructive expansion program throughout various communities of native people in Grand Bassa. Following the failure of the Minister of Justice to carry out the mandate of the Committee and LAC’s continuation of its illegal expansion, the people of Bassa realized that nothing would have been achieved through the NTGL
               
LAC then sent a group of men to some towns and villages in the District No. 4, again outside of what is known as the “LAC Plantation”, and told the villagers to evacuate their homes because LAC was ready to move in the area. The villagers responded that they would not move from their villages until they heard from the Government, who they believed was then investigating the matter through the Committee.
 
Not opposed to expansion, but…

The elders say the people of Grand Bassa and Rivercess are not fundamentally opposed to the expansion of LAC’s rubber plantation. We are aware that LAC employs many Liberians and Bassa residents in particular, and could very well employ more, especially in River Cess.

But we the people and our government cannot allow the promise of such benefits to be used as an excuse to abuse the rights of some of our citizens, especially those who are unable to fend for themselves. As a nation, we are as strong as the weakest one among us.

LAC contends that its “Concession Areas” includes 300,000 acres of land that runs from St. John River, which forms the boundary between Grand Bassa and Bong Counties, to Cestos River, which forms the boundary between Rivercess and Sinoe Counties. But LAC is wrong! LAC concession does not cover 300,000 acres of land in Grand Bassa and

River Cess, any more than it covers 600,000 in Grand Bassa, River Cess, Nimba, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, and Maryland Counties. It covers only those areas that were surveyed by LAC between March 3, 1959 and September 2, 1960, and subsequently approved by the Government of Liberia, as shown above.

LAC either has the right of possession to all of the 600,000 acres of land that the Government of Liberia made available to it in 1959, or it has the right to possess only that portion that it surveyed within the aforesaid eighteen (18) month period, and has since developed.

There can be no two ways about it! If LAC has the right to possess and utilize only the area surveyed and developed - not more than 30,000 acres - then LAC is wrong for claiming additional land at this point in time, without prior negotiation with the government, as provided for in the Agreement. LAC’s right to expand its Concession Area has expired by law, and LAC may now acquire additional land only upon renegotiation of its Concession Agreement with the Government of Liberia.

In addition to making the villagers homeless, the elders petition suggested that LAC is seriously and adversely affecting food security in that region of the country. “LAC has disrupted the farming season. All of the people that are being evicted feed themselves from their farms, which LAC is destroying. Also, cities such as Buchanan depend on food from those farms.

The action of LAC, if allowed unchecked, would aggravate the already dismal food security situation in Liberia.”

In the wake of the charges and allegations, the petition stated that if LAC insists upon making more Liberians homeless, men would defend their homes and their families, and they have not only the right, but also an obligation to do so. “We cannot afford for the fragile calm to be disrupted.

It is against this background that we appeal to Your Excellency, the President of the Republic of Liberia, to please intervene and help avert a humanitarian catastrophe in Grand Bassa and River Cess Counties.”

SOURCE: FPA