MARKET DEVELOPMENT
Liberia: SICFA Hooked for 'Violating' Communities Rights
Liberia: SICFA Hooked for 'Violating' Communities Rights
03/07/2014 (AllAfrica.com) - A new Concession Agreement Report, dubbed" No End To Exploitation" in Maryland County released by the Pro-Forest Rights and Advocacy group, Social Entrepreneurs for Sustainable Development (SESDev), has linked the Controversial Agribusiness group SIFCA of Wide Spread of human rights violations and for unlawfully operating in Maryland County.
The new Concession Agreement Report in Maryland County was launched on Thursday, June 26, 2014 SESDev.
SESDev is funded by the British based rights organization, Forest Peoples Program and the well known Liberian forest rights and advocacy group, Sustainable Development Institution or SDI.
SESDev in its new report, which was released in Monrovia, said SICFA, which is a subsidiary of Maryland Palm Oil Plantation (MOPP) and Cavalla Rubber Corporation (CRC) violated both Liberian and International Laws by commencing operations in August 2011 with the authorization of the Liberian Government even before a formal negotiation and agreement were signed.
The report pointed out that the contract process for both concessions failed to meet up with the Liberian Laws.
At the official launched over the weekend, the representative of the local Maryland community group, Association of Conscious Citizens, Alex Nyemah, backed the SESDev's report, saying 13 Communities have been greatly affected by the operations of SICFA.
Mr. Nyemeh averred that SIFCA has damaged their customary land as they continue to violate communities' customary rights.
He also averred that the company has not obtained communities consent and was now illegally clearing communities land and forcibly resettling communities without any due process or equitable compensations.
The SESDev's report furthered that the actions and operations of SIFCA have also violated the No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation Policy of the Singaporean agribusiness giant Wilmar.
Both Wilmar and the African Development Bank were blamed in the report for the actions of SIFCA.
The report noted that SIFCA was not also complying with its financier's policy of the African Development Bank.
The report also noted that the community people suffered arbitrary arrest, intimidation and harassment From SIFCA allegedly with the support of the Liberia National Police (LNP).
Among other things, the forest rights group recommended that the Liberian tovernment and SIFCA immediately address these alarming human rights issues. SESDev also challenged the Wilmer and ADB to immediately examine what the pro-forest group calls reckless investments.
Dr. Bophal Chambers the Maryland County Pleebo Sodokan District Representative has for so long criticized the operations and actions of SIFCA on the basis that the company has committed more human rights violations, including arbitrary arrest, intimidation and harassment of peaceful residents than any other multi-million dollars investment company in Liberia.
The Authorities of the Monrovia Office of the SIFCA, when contacted today by a group of journalists said the company will prepare a response soon.
The new Concession Agreement Report in Maryland County was launched on Thursday, June 26, 2014 SESDev.
SESDev is funded by the British based rights organization, Forest Peoples Program and the well known Liberian forest rights and advocacy group, Sustainable Development Institution or SDI.
SESDev in its new report, which was released in Monrovia, said SICFA, which is a subsidiary of Maryland Palm Oil Plantation (MOPP) and Cavalla Rubber Corporation (CRC) violated both Liberian and International Laws by commencing operations in August 2011 with the authorization of the Liberian Government even before a formal negotiation and agreement were signed.
The report pointed out that the contract process for both concessions failed to meet up with the Liberian Laws.
At the official launched over the weekend, the representative of the local Maryland community group, Association of Conscious Citizens, Alex Nyemah, backed the SESDev's report, saying 13 Communities have been greatly affected by the operations of SICFA.
Mr. Nyemeh averred that SIFCA has damaged their customary land as they continue to violate communities' customary rights.
He also averred that the company has not obtained communities consent and was now illegally clearing communities land and forcibly resettling communities without any due process or equitable compensations.
The SESDev's report furthered that the actions and operations of SIFCA have also violated the No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation Policy of the Singaporean agribusiness giant Wilmar.
Both Wilmar and the African Development Bank were blamed in the report for the actions of SIFCA.
The report noted that SIFCA was not also complying with its financier's policy of the African Development Bank.
The report also noted that the community people suffered arbitrary arrest, intimidation and harassment From SIFCA allegedly with the support of the Liberia National Police (LNP).
Among other things, the forest rights group recommended that the Liberian tovernment and SIFCA immediately address these alarming human rights issues. SESDev also challenged the Wilmer and ADB to immediately examine what the pro-forest group calls reckless investments.
Dr. Bophal Chambers the Maryland County Pleebo Sodokan District Representative has for so long criticized the operations and actions of SIFCA on the basis that the company has committed more human rights violations, including arbitrary arrest, intimidation and harassment of peaceful residents than any other multi-million dollars investment company in Liberia.
The Authorities of the Monrovia Office of the SIFCA, when contacted today by a group of journalists said the company will prepare a response soon.