Residents of Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County, on Wednesday and Thursday went on the rampage against the only concession in the county, Bea Mountain Mining Company (BMMC), creating roadblocks and destroying several properties belonging to the company.
According to information gathered by the Hot Pepper, the protest started on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 following a meeting held between Grand Cape Mount County’s district #2 Representative, Mohammed Dosi, and residents of Golgoma, Matambo corridor, Grand Cape Mount County.
It is being alleged that the meeting between the lawmaker and the residents fueled the tension and instigated the chaos in the county.
However, residents of the county have often time protested against the company for bad labor practice, not upholding the mineral development agreement, and not employing qualified Liberians to key positions at the mines. They recently frowned at the huge presence of police and army officers at the company, as well as the mines, which they claimed was instilling fear in the residents.
A resident of Kinjor who spoke to the paper said the residents previously gave the company a 30-count resolution to meet up with, but the company seems adamant on its course of action. As a result, the citizens resolved to initiate a peaceful protest to draw the attention of the government, and created roadblocks to hinder the operation of the company until it gives them a listening ear.
The Hot Pepper gathered that Senator Dabah Vapillah, while on her way to the next town encountered the protesters and told them that it was their right to protest, but cautioned the protestors to remain peaceful. She gave the protestors money for water and food then continued her journey. Also, Representative Dosi is said to have talked to the protestors, allegedly giving them his blessings and support to protest for what he termed their “rights”.
Unfortunately, the protest turned violent, and protestors began to destroy the company’s properties. The protestors also set ablaze the home of Boakai LansannahTararero, who contested against Representative Dosi in the 2023 election, and is seen as a potential rival to the lawmaker. Also, the newly dedicated vocational school in Kinjor was destroyed as well as machines belonging to the company.
Upon receiving the information, the Inspector General of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Gregory Coleman, immediately dispatched a combined operational and investigative team to Kenjor, Grand Cape Mount County, to restore tranquility and thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the riot.
But the LNP officers would be stiffly resisted and heatedly engaged. This, according to report, led to the police unleashing teargas and firing live bullets, leading to the death of, at least, three persons, and leaving several persons wounded.
Several Cape Mount residents are pointing accusing fingers at Representative Dosi for allegedly giving rise to the violent protest. But in an interview with journalists at the scene on whether he was aware of the burning of equipment, Representative Dosi said he only heard about it. “But why will you bring armed people to the community that you want to work in? That is a conflict,” Dosi told reporters.
Dosi admitted that he wrote his colleague lawmakers to call for the withdrawal of armed men at the mines. According to him, there is no need to hire armed men to be at the mines.
In a swift reaction to the allegation levied against them, the management of Bea Mountain has disclosed that the accusation that Liberians are not being hired in top positions is false and misleading, as the human resource manager, superintendent, community relations officer, supervisors and camp managers are all Liberians.
Also, the company noted that since it embarked on expansion last year it has over 4,000 employees and over 6,000 contractors, many of whom are from the county.
Regarding the presence of armed men at the concession, they said their action was backed by the mineral development agreement between the company and the government.
They cited Section 11.2(a) of the MDA, which states, “The Company may, directly or by contract with a responsible provider of security services, establish, manage and maintain its own asset and employee security and protection service for the purpose of protecting assets in the Production Area and near other locations at which Company has or maintains property and assets through its own security force and to do so always in accordance with Law and rules and regulations promulgated by the Ministry of Justice relating to security forces. Such security force shall not bear arms and shall at all times operate subject to the authority of, and coordination with the Liberia National Police.”
Also, they added, section B says, “In the event the company deems it absolutely necessary to have armed guards for the purpose of protecting assets in the Production Area and near other locations at which Company has or maintains property and assets, the Company shall make a written request to the Government. The Government shall provide armed guards as needed, which expense shall be borne by the Company.”
Meanwhile, in response to the on-going protest at Bea Mountain Mining Company, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, has taken decisive action by establishing an Ad-hoc Intervention Committee.
The committee is said to be tasked with conducting a thorough investigation into the issues surrounding the protest, ensuring a fair and impartial inquiry.
The legislative delegation comprised of Representatives Yekeh Kolubah, Dixon Seboe, Eugene Kollie, Emmanuel Dahn, Foday Fahnbulleh, Edward Flomo and three lawmakers from Cape Mount.
The ad-hoc Intervention Committee is already working to gather facts, engage stakeholders and present a comprehensive report that will guide future actions and decisions.
Also, the Liberian Senate has taken immediate action to intervene in the on-going protest in Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County, by inviting the Justice Minister and the Inspector General of Police.
President Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence requested the two security heads to appear at the Senate on Thursday, February 29, 2024 to provide update on the on-going Kinjor Protest, and for the Senate to have a clear direction in addressing the situation and finding a way forward.