Monrovia — At least 13 farm workers are dead after a violent clash over a plot of farmland 55 kilometers south-east of the capital, Monrovia.
The land, at the border of Margibi and Grand Bassa counties, has been claimed by both Senator Roland Kahn and Charles Bennie, a former official of a defunct rebel group.
The superintendent of the county told a local radio station that many more people could be dead as some are still "missing in action." Police director Beatrice Munah Sieh said the bodies discovered so far were found dumped in the nearby Farmington River. The bodies reportedly show evidence of gunshot and machete wounds.
One survivor reported that he was taken to the area by Charles Bennie to help clear brush on his land. In the forest, he said, he and the other workers were attacked by men wielding machetes and single-barreled firearms.
In an interview with AllAfrica, Information Minister Laurence Bropleh said the government is "alarmed" by the incident and is investigating through the Ministry of Justice.
Bropleh said the farm was established by Charles Bennie and that there are "allegations" of Senator Khan being linked to the clash.
Many Liberians have been upset at reports that police have not made any arrests. However, county superintendent Levi Piah said some suspects have, in fact, been arrested.
Many callers on a local radio program expressed frustration at what they see as the impunity of Liberia's elite – a clear reference to the alleged involvement of Senator Kahn and Charles Bennie. "Land disputes in this country [have] become a national crisis" said one caller, "and if nothing is done to address it with urgency, we could be heading back to where we came from."
Liberia is currently recovering from 14 years of civil war, during which many farms were taken over or defended by rebels. As the country rebuilds, land and property values have increased considerably, and many investors and refugee returnees are looking to buy and reclaim land left unoccupied or squatted on by former fighters.
Earlier this year two clans in Liberia's south-eastern Maryland County fought over land, killing two people. Controversy and tension over land rights may have led to the November 2007 death of a Belgian employee of the Liberian Agricultural Company in Grand Bassa County. He was shot dead while surveying property for the company's planned expansion into a local community.
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For the past three-four years I been working in Lofa and Bong Counties as Development worker. Together with my team members, we been conducting workshops on Good governance, gender and leadership, and holding Community Dialogue forums in some communities in these counties. Regardless of the type of workhsop, I noticed that the issues of land is high in the communities. In fact, in some communities people have confusion over house spot and quarter spots. For our people (the rural Liberians)land is considered as source of life. They will prefer to give out other things but not their land. They wil agee to compromise with you on other things, but not their land. While it is ture that they do not own these land according to the Land Acqusition procedures,they believed that their forefathers left the land with them as the source of their living. Therefore, let the government of Liberia act urgently and decisively in addressing or dealing with land disputes in our country. The consultative meetings held around the country by the Governance Commission surfaced some of these issues either directly or indirectly. The various land conflicts happening around us i Liberia, must not be overlooked as these conflicts have the propensity to turn this country into another chaos. Let the government act urgently by setting up the Land Reform Commission to handle some of these cases, and put into place laws on land reform and land acqusition.
I am very sadden by this information, it is frustrating to hear that Liberians after long years of instabbilities, brutality and bitter struggle for survival, Liberians are still in the habit of killing their fellow brothers all in the name of power greed or some kind of land dispute. we the Liberians living oversea want to return and bring some development to our belove country but with these kinds of information, it only bring back bitter memories and fear of insecurity. All I am asking is that the government tried to get involve in some of these ongoing conflicts and find some solutions. There are many Liberians living oversea that will be please if these issues of land disputes that have been one of liberia's comtempory problem, is resolved amicably. The government should also take strong disciplinary action against those involve in the killing of those labourers working to earn their living. My fellow Liberian let us stop taking the laws in our own hands, let stop killing as the means of resoluting conflicts,Let us find a way to live in peace and make Liberia a secure place to live.
Hopefully Liberia is not sliding back...
We all have to realize that Liberia was hurt in so many ways that we never thought about during those days hardship. By you saying "Liberia Is not sliding back" is like we are allowing the devil to take a portion of our vision and future. We need to pray becuase its not a joke to be at war for 14 years. Its a damn long time of hurt and pain. Not to wrongly aim at your statement, but lets just try as individuals and groups to keep lifting our country up in prayers for every little areas of devastation the war has caused. A lot of us can't wait to return home with smiles and joy that we can be in the mist of families that we left behind all these years. Love to all LIBERIANS out there.
Well, evil doers are surfacing again as a recidivist.When will they face justice?A former rebel spokeman is recruiting men to work on his controversal farm.He also promised them $50.00 us dollar a day.What is Mr. Bennie saying again my people?Is this an other attempt to start what he knows best?I want to know if there is no body in the two counties to hire as daily laborer?Any way, Mr. Bennie needs to answer questions about what he knows he did.I still want to know Mr. Bennie relationship with his so called farm.Really any one will believe that there existed an armed bush for those Bennie hired;so he definitely knows what went on at his so called farm.This is a challenge to the Liberian government when it comes to the rules of law in post war Liberia.The liberian people want to know what will be the out come of this cause at hand.How many times do Liberians want to kill fellow Liberians?Again, I say, the greatness of a man is determined by his forgiveness and tolerance,not by his physical strength.Is this the way the Liberians Renaissance, changing minds and changing attitudes will work?This is the time to embrace peace, brotherly love, unity and togetherness if Liberia is to develop.
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