By Never G. Lomo,garmahlomo@gmail.com
Toe Town,
Grand Gedeh, Liberia- A meeting held
in Duogee B’hai administrative district, Liberia’s southeastern Grand Gedeh
County on whether or not to expel Burkinabae migrants ended in confusion over
the weekend, causing the acting Paramount Chief Robert Bestman to walk out.
In recent times, an
increasing number of Burkinabaes have reportedly entered this part of Liberia
from neigbouring Ivory Coast and are allegedly engaged in illegal farming
(planting cocoa) and hunting in the Liberian forest.
According to the anti-Burkinabaes, since the
arrival of the latest batch of migrants in the district about a week ago, the
entire district has been plunged into confusion, and they therefore cannot
sleep houses thus creating fear amongst citizens.
During the weekend meeting, the citizens said
the Burkinabaes are in the habit of violating their norms and tradition
and also taking their women away, using cash violence.
Furthermore, the anti Burkinabaes claimed that
the migrants are very destructive in handling farmland by lighting fire under
logs and other big trees in the forest. Some also accused the Burkinabaes of
playing key role in the Liberian civil war.
Mr. Emmanuel Krayee, Traditional Council Chairman
said one of the Burkinabaes had violated their norm and tradition in town by
cutting one of a trees which grew on the stump of a big cotton tree, which nobody
is allowed to cut any of its branches nor any plant that grows around it.
The Chairman of the tradition council of Duogee
B’hal district disclosed that the cotton tree was planted by their forefathers.
He claimed that one of the Burkinabaes had violated their norm and
tradition by cutting one of the trees that grew within the cotton tree which
according it was in violation with their tradition and norm.
Mr. Krayee explained that one of the migrants
bought a pineapple and the stick on which the fruit was hanging broke, so he
decided to cut one of that sticks that grew on the cotton tree and placed it in
the pineapple to peal it.
According to the Traditional Council official,
barely three days after the arrival of the Burkinabaes one of them committed
that unlawful act which was totally unacceptable to their norm and tradition.
He further said after the lawful act was
committed against one of the migrants were told to pay two sheep, two bag of
rice, one gallon of palm oil which they did since they were unwarranted.
However, two resolution from the anti-Burkinabae
migrants residing both in Monrovia and Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County said, the
citizens of Dougee town residing in Monrovia and its environs have resolved
after several consultations and meetings not to accept the request of the Burkinabaes
of giving them thousands of acres of farm land belonging to Duogee town.
They said they will not allow
the Burkinabaes to have citizens of the town work on their individual farms, as
they have requested based on the following counts:
That the burkinabes are not friendly for the fact that
they don’t sleep in homes of theirb stranger fathers even if they do not have
any anywhere to sleep and they do not live in the same town or village with
others except their tribal people.
The resolution of the Monrovia residents said
that the Burkinabes are noted for and have records of destroying forest and or
bushes given to them for farming or crop planting purposes.
Finally, the resolutions which was signed by 38
persaon said, although they have not given them access to their forest or
bushes and town, the Burkinbaes have started to destroy their tradition and
heritage as carried out by one of them.
For the people in Zwedru city, they said in a
resolution that “we the citizens of Duogee B’hai administrative district, Grand
Gedeh county residing in Zwedru City are not in agreement with burkinabes
settlement on their land for reasons below:
“”Upon the arrival of Burkinabaes in their town,
they went against the norms and the cultures of the town that is cotton tree
that was used to build the town by their forefathers with fences around it
which one of them cut one of it supportive arm under it.”
The resolution said they have intruded their
Gbarzon forest that linking Liberia and Ivory Coast illegally for so many years
and up to present, the Liberia government is still finding it difficult to get
them out.
Zwedru city residents’ resolution further added
that the present of Burkinabaes in any community are proven to bring about
disunity and conflict among family and communities.
According to their resolution, the Burkinabaes’
method of farming will destroy their forest, the community is already in
negotiation with the forestry development authority for a community forest deed
to enable them generate resources for our community Dougee town, Tian town, Sennen-weh
and other surrounding villages, in line with the community right law.
For his part, the acting Paramount Chief of
Duogee B’hai administrative district, Robert Bestman and pro Burkinabaes said the
arrival of the migrants in Grand Gedeh was approved by the government of
Liberia, and document was requested from them, which they showed them as town
local leadership.
Paramount chief Bestman disclosed that the
document given to them by the Liberia government added that the land was
specifically assigned to the Burkinabaes for farming purposes.
He said his position is that every Liberian has their right to
certain thing,adding that when they arrived they stressed on farming in the
community forest between Liberia and Ivory coast. But residents of that area resisted
their request because the forest is surrounded by other towns and villages.
Duogee people insisted that the Burkinabaes have
been very helpful to them and providing food items and cleaning their farm for
free.
Meanwhile, a District Commissioner in Grand Gedeh
County, Mr. Williams Quatis has declared that he does not want to see any Burkinabae
in the entire B’hai administrative district.
Mr. Quatis said anyone who will harbor the Burkinabaes
will be doing it at their own risk and they will be penelize for it.
He called on Burkinabaes operating in the forest
to immediately leave.