Africa-Press – Liberia. State security forces’ alleged use of brut force in protecting the gold mining company Bea Mountain has led to lawmakers voting to recall the army and the police deployed there over two years ago.
At least three persons are feared dead, and several others injured as longstanding protests against the operation of commercial gold mining company Bea Mountain Mining Corporation (BMMC) continue.
The protests which turned bloody, have taken place in Tawore District, Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County.
The bloody protest in Tawore District early Thursday morning, 29 February 2024 is one of many brutal incidents as dissents grow among residents in the company’s host community.
The Liberia National Police (LNP) has however denied the report of alleged deaths.
However, our reporter who visited the scene with lawmakers from Monrovia and the County said residents of Grand Cape Mounty County had accused the police’s Emergency Response Unit (ERU) assigned at the concession area of allegedly discharging live bullets.
Part of the protesters’ demand is to have one of their sons represented at the BMMC’s senior management level and distribution of electricity.
They are also protesting for other benefits as indicated in the Mineral Development Agreement signed in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the company and the county.
Protesters have told our reporter that they were peacefully protesting when the LNP officers went on the scene and demanded their forceful removal.
But they said they resisted the police’s order, allegedly prompting the officers to discharge live bullets.
The citizens accused the LNP of killing three protesters through the discharge of the alleged live bullet, but the LNP has denied the report.
“We were peacefully protesting until the police came to forcefully remove us. We resisted and they discharged live bullets that led to the death of three persons. Two persons were buried and that is the one person’s body you are seeing here,” some of the protesters narrated.
On the protest scene, Police Spokesperson Moses Carter denied any use of live bullets and the death of anyone during an interview.
Rather, Carter said few individuals were unconscious.
“We don’t know about any death or live bullet. However, what we do know is that two civilians are unconscious along with ten police officers and they are currently at the John F. Kennedy Hospital in Monrovia,” Mr. Carter explained.
Meanwhile, several lawmakers headed by the House of Representatives Chair on Executive Mr. Emmanuel Dahn and Representative Yekeh Kolubah of Montserrado County went to Grand Cape Mount County to negotiate peace.
Speaking to the aggrieved protesters, Representative Dahn urged them to be calm and patient, adding that their concerns are very legitimate and will be addressed.
After listening to the Representatives, the protesters agreed to abandon the protest but gave the lawmakers a one-week deadline to address their plights.
“We have listened to everything that you have said and we have decided to disengage from this protest. However, we are giving you a week’s deadline to address this concern. Failure on your part, we will continue our protest,” the residents said.
However, the LNP on late Thursday evening, 29 February 2024, dispatched and deployed operational and investigative teams to the incident scene following the violent protest between Bea Mountain Mining Company and the locals.
The LNP in a statement indicated that the team of investigators was dispatched by Police Inspector General Col. Gregory Coleman.
“The Inspector General of the Liberian National Police, Gregory Coleman has promptly deployed a combined operational and investigative team to Kenjor, Grand Cape Mount County,” the release said.
The LNP noted that the primary objective of the team is to restore tranquillity and thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the riot in Kenjor, Grand Cape Mount County.
“Subsequently, appropriate measures will be taken accordingly. However, IG Coleman earnestly appeals to the public to maintain composure, assuring them that every effort will be made to swiftly conduct the investigation and ensure that those responsible for the violence face the full consequences of the law,” the release added.
“The public will be promptly updated on casualties and the actions taken to address the situation,” it said further.
Meanwhile, the newly elected lawmaker of District #2 Grand Cape Mount County, Mohammed Dosi told reporters on Wednesday that he supported the protestors because armed men were deployed in the operation area of the company, something that he did not like.
On Wednesday and Thursday protestors went on rampage after the lawmaker held meeting with them.
He told residents in Golgoma, Grand cape Mount County that they were unhappy.
The protestors later set ablaze the home of one Boakai Lansannah Tararero, a citizen of the county. Boakai contested against Representative Dosi in the just-ended election of 2023. He is seen as a potential rival to Rep. Dosi.
On his official facebook page, Boakai accused Rep. Dosiofr supporting the burning his home.
Due to the seriousness of the protest, the police had to fire light bullets and fired teargas to dispel protestors.
The newly dedicated vocational school in the area was destroyed as well as several machines and other centers in the town. The police have dispatched a team of officers to ascertain more facts. Not only them but also the House of Representatives has sent a team of lawmakers to the area to know the details of the incident.
In an interview journalist on the scene, Rep. Dosi defended the protest action, saying it was due to the deployment of hired armed men at the company’s site.
On whether he was aware of the burning of equipment, he said, he only heard about it but, said: “because the armed people are here to make our people afraid. Why will you bring armed people to the community that you want to work in? That is a conflict,” Dosi told reporters.
Dosi admitted that he wrote his colleague lawmakers to call for the withdrawal of armed men at the mines. According to him, there is no need to hire armed men to be at the mines.
But his statement was debunked by some citizens from Cape Mount who said that BMMC was right to hire armed men to protect its facilities.
According to Amara Folley, a resident of Kinjor, the presence of armed men was necessary due to past experience in which BMMC facilities were destroyed.
According to him, approaching the general elections last year, the National Security team assessed all potential Hotspots in the country and determined that the explosives magazines at Bea Mountain were a potential risk point.
It was realized that the presence of police was not strong enough to withstand any violent activities. So, the Ministry of Justice sought support from the AFL, and the troops were deployed not only at Bea Mountain but also at LEC facilities like Mount Coffee.
More importantly, according to Section 11.2.a of the MDA-Mineral Development Agreement signed between the Liberian government and Bea Mountain states that; “The Company may, directly or by contract with a responsible provider of security services, establish, manage and maintain its own asset and employee security and protection service to protect assets in the Production Area and in the immediate vicinity of other locations at which Company has or maintains property and assets through its own security force and to do so always in accordance with Law and rules and regulations promulgated by the Ministry of Justice relating to security forces. Such security force shall not bear arms and shall at all times operate subject to the authority of, and coordination with the Liberia National Police.”
Not only that, but also, In section b says; “In the event the Company deems it necessary to have armed guards to protect assets in the Production Area and near other locations at which Company has or maintains property and assets, the Company shall make a written request to the Government. The Government shall provide armed guards as needed, which expense shall be borne by the Company.”
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