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Liberia: LWHR Helps Citizens Solve Problems
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The Analyst (Monrovia)
5 March 2008
Posted to the web 5 March 2008
The Liberia Watch for Human Rights (LWHR) assisted some locals in Bomi and Grand Cape Mount County, raising concerns over the activities of "extractive companies" operating in several districts in Grand Cape Mount County and even wants the government take appositive steps to correct the wrongs.
LWHR held a press conference last week to make its case to the government on the one hand, Liberian people on another hand as well as the international community.
The position followed it week-long assessment of activities of these companies in the county during which time locals of these areas complained that they were not benefiting from companies in their areas and that their operations were not to their knowledge.
Quoting what citizens told them at a workshop, LWHR says it has gathered that companies operating in the county are doing so without the knowledge of the citizens there, let alone getting any benefits.
Apart from the lack of knowledge of the operations of the companies, LWHR claimed she was informed by the citizens of the Tewor, Garwular, Purkpa and other districts that they were not involved in the negotiations that 'led to the agreements.
Reading from a prepared text, LWHR Executive Director Thompson Ade-Baryor admonished the government not to allow what it calls "the apostles of unbridled materialism" to relive the past by relegating the people in resource rich communities into silent resignation to their fate of under development, or to the whims and caprices of legislators and senators whose opinions become the "Unquestionable Truth."
According to LWHR, it sees greed, selfishness and ruination in the entire "wasteful illegal situation" which it says is often the result of mismanagement, greedy commerce and corruption.
Though the institution says it is yet to confirm these allegations, but thinks it is also necessary to sound a ukase as she is investigating. The West African Agricultural Company (WAAC) oil palm production -Tewor/Garwular Districts
Some of the companies allegedly involved in the acts are Manor Resource - gold mining - Gola Konneh District, Guthrie Rubber Plantation Company -latex extraction for rubber productions, Orbital Company -scrap metals - Porpka District (Mano River), among many others.
Not to speak of their involvement in negotiation process that led to the concession agreements for explorations or extraction processes of minerals.
Among other things, the LWHR has reported what it calls "worst case scenario" relative to the operations of companies in the areas.
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According toLWHR, the management of the Chinese company operating in the area is yet "to deliver on terms agreed upon in a so-called concession agreement relative to building of a school, clinic, guest house and provide farming tools for residents of the township of Bangoruna".
They observed that residents doing contract with this company have complained about low wages amidst working for several hours daily. Apart from that, LWHR says there are reports that a company, Sub-Sea Resources is dredging the Lake Piso for mineral purposes.
They said this allegation needs to be verified, the human rights group noted that there was need for government to act because dredging poses danger to the conservation of marine life in Lake Piso. The company concerned could not be reached for verification up to press time, but investigation continues.
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