Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) recent report submitted to its parent body and subsequently published by Friends of the Earth (FOE) seems to be creating serious credibility problem for the group in Liberia.

In the report by SDI, the rights group accused Sime Darby Plantation Liberia (SDPL) of land grabbing and violation of free prior consent among others in Grand Cape Mount County.

But in a sharp reaction, commissioners at Liberia's Land Commission have dispelled and refuted the report, branding the group's report as untrue.

Chiefs, elders, locals and opinion leaders of Cape Mount have all condemned the SDI for what they called its cheap lies.

As if this is not enough, the Coalition of Cape Mount Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), through its Chairman, Mr. Alex Balo, has frowned on the rights group.

In a recent interview with journalists at his Zodua Clan office, Mr. Balo averred, "NGOs activities are relative, but they have some NGOs that are anti, that is why we continue to signal out to other NGOs coming to our county. NGOs coming to Zodua and returning with false information without consulting us or other natives are doing more harm than good."

According to him, SDPL met in full, all of the criteria set aside by the Government of Liberia (GOL) and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) for land acquisition, because they witnessed lot of the company's activities.

"The company carried out the free prior consent. Sime Darby also brought in an international NGO-The Forest Trust (TFT) that led the process of free prior consent. We were also present when Sime Darby and community members carried out the participatory mapping process in Zodua. The process leading to acquisition of land-in keeping with international standard was met by the company," Mr. Balo narrated.

When quizzed whether the people of Cape Mount would ever create bottle neck for SDPL, he stated, "except God comes down from Heaven and brings different mandate, other than that; the land of Zodua is free of all hurdles. The people of Zodua and Sime Darby have entered into an MOU."

In a very angry tone, Mr. Balo warned SDI to be very careful, because all of the locals in Cape Mount are complaining about the negative report release not only on Sime Darby, but them, adding "We know that SDI is being sponsor by Friend of the Earth, but Friend of the Earth told them to ensure the facts before they submit any report on Liberia. There are people on the stand by now to testify against the SDI report sent to Friend of the Earth. They are ready to prove that the report is false, misleading, and fallacious and we will not accept it."

He revealed that SDI has an Agent in Grand Cape Mount called Kortu-who handpicked a few persons, paid them and took them to Gbarpolu to lie against Sime Darby and the project affected communities.

The CSOs Coalition Chairman alleged that the entire operation of SDI is for financial gains base on negative and false reports submitted to Friend of the Earth, noting that "SDI is anti government and anti communities' development and economic growth. They are antagonizing the Zodua Clan."

He maintained, "The people of Zodua have given the mandate to the Government of Liberia (GOL) and Sime Darby to come and carry on the planting of rubber or oil palm so that they can benefit directly and indirectly.

"As a citizen of Zodua, I can safely say that we left sufficient land for farming, fishing, hunting and other domestic and village activities. We have reserved land for our children and the generations unborn."

On the issue of communication and participation between the company and the locals-especially those at SDPL's project affected communities, Mr. Balo said all was being done now, as evidence by the free prior consent processes which ends up with the signing of Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs). He stated that such was not done years ago, but today government and the communities including SDPL are working together and achieving other bigger things collectively.

He continued, "The human rights NGOs are in the West and sending their money to Liberia to support a staff base here, but the employees or agents in Liberia are only working for money. They are not working for facts, because if you come into the community and refused to sit with the community dwellers and get factual information from them, but to incite them at so-called workshops where you usually give them US$10.00 each, it is harmful to our development and economic growth.

I am very impress with the level of development initiated by Sime Darby at project affected communities, especially in lower Garwulah Clan. This is why the people of Zodua Clanhave seen and continue to say that Sime Darby is our only hope of being taken out of darkness.

The issue of Sime Darby in Liberia is a big talk around town, but the issue of Zodua and Sime Darby is extraordinary that we have to handle very carefully. The people of Zodua respect themselves and the government of the Republic of Liberia.

The people of Zodua see the coming of Sime Darby to their region is a great success to them."

Despite efforts by this reporter to contact SDI executives and staffers to comment on the issue, the group is yet to officially respond to the allegation. SDI has however not commented on the rising reaction to its recent alleged false information sent to donors.