The Inquirer (Monrovia)
15 November 2008
A group of illicit tappers has again attacked an employee of Firestone with acid water, leaving him with burns on his ears, two legs and other parts of his body.
Speaking from the Firestone Medical Center in Harbel, where he was admitted following the unfortunate incident, victim Charles Kollie said while he and some of his fellow teammates were patrolling, they saw unidentified men moving among the rubber trees.
He noted that after they spotted them (the gang of illicit tappers), the men ran in different directions leaving their previous position. Victim Kollie further stated that he and his fellow employees later discovered a bag of coagulated rubber in the position from where the illicit tappers had earlier run.
According to Mr. Kollie, while he and his friends were in the process of inspecting the contents of the bag, one of the illicit tappers emerged from among the rubber trees and began splashing acid water.
He pointed out that immediately he began to feel sharp pains burning through his flesh on the ears, legs, his back and other parts of his body leading him to drop on the ground helplessly.
"I was crying in pains after my friends fled away for fear of being harm; but later returned and came to my aid by rushing me to the hospital" he declared.
The victim further narrated that the incident occurred during the early morning hours of Thursday, November 13, 2008, at Tank 14 in Division 44 around the Dubridge area. No one has been arrested in connection with this latest incident.
Residents spoken to alarmed that the situation created by illicit tappers roaming the concession area of Firestone Liberia is scaring employees and inhabitants who are living in perpetual fears.
They are calling on all stakeholders of the Liberian rubber industry to institute corrective measures to curtail the continuous occurrence of these unwholesome activities including uprooting and chopping of young rubber trees by unknown individuals.
It is further believed that the increase in illicit tapping could undermine the accelerated efforts of the company which is contributing immensely to the overall growth and development of the Liberian economy.
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Where are the Highway Patrols? Liberia National Police needs to to develope a Highway Patrol Unit, particularly for these rubber plantations if they do not have one already. The nation have limited access to roads, which will enable the Police to monitor vehicles day and night plowing the few roads in and out of the area. If there is a suspecials vehicle, they can pull it over, and check it for weapons, and other things that could be link to Firestone and other companies that have been victims also.