Another Arrested
By King Brown, sarwahking@gmail.com
BUCHANAN, Liberia- A big protest against the AcelorMittal Liberia in this port city has left one person hospitalized.
Another person has been arrested and detained by the Liberia National Police, following the protest against AML on Monday, May 22, 2023 for allegedly violating the amended version of the 2008 Mineral Development Agreement (MDA).
Monday’s protest followed a period of strike action by aggrieved AML workers over bad labour practice, salary disparity and other demand. But the Labour Ministry over the weekend called on the iron ore mining workers to resume work.
The protest action started Monday at 6 am, ended at 4:15 pm on May 22, 2023 with a warning to return early Tuesday morning, may 23, 2023 at 5 am to continue.
Also, normal working activity of ArcelorMittal and a sub-contracting company AFCON disrupted leaving all workers, including experts escaping at 10 am from the concession yard for fear of being harmed by those angry protesters.
The protesters were seen chanting slogans “Bring our concentrator plant back to Buchanan, it is not for Nimba County, the people of Bassa are not stupid and at the same time describing some Indian nationals as wicked, criminals, and prisoners who left their homes and come take over jobs that should be given to Liberians”.
They blocked the main entrance of the company leading towards the sea port, stopping vehicles and workers from going inside and coming outside in the concession yard of AML.
It was alleged that the pressure group ”Bassa Rescue Movement” set ablaze the train railway at two separate locations, peace and Peachzohn Communities where major maintenance worked was done for smooth operation.
“The company management disrespected the direct Representative of district three Matthew Joe. He invited AML management into a meeting on Sunday May 21, 2023 at 2pm to clearly explain why they transfer the washing pant from Bassa to Nimba County but sadly nobody step there, we will protest for the next one month ensuring no working activity will take place at ArcelorMittal until our concerns are address” they said.
In order to disperse the protesters, state security officers were seen chasing after them including some community dwellers approximately over 80 people gathered on the railway to look at the men action.
While escaping, the ring leader of the protesters Abraham Kingjones said he was captured by one of the rioting police officers (PSU) Henry J. Drow who allegedly beat a gun butt on his head that led blood to pour from his head.
But the police officer Henry J. Drow denies the accusation levied against him, stating he knows Abraham Kingjones very well and he can’t do that. In fact, he said he wasn’t even on the riot scene when the incident happened.
The victim was rushed at the Liberia Government Hospital on Kibly Street in Buchanan for medical treatment.
Justine Tarr, one of the protesters, was also arrested, and he is currently detained at the Police headquarters on the fairgrounds in Buchanan.
The intense riot between state security officers and protesters started after sticks and tires were seen blazing on the train railway.
The protesters accused the company management of violating the Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) of 2005 that was amended in 2008 by the national legislature which states that the concentrator plant (Washing Plant) should be built in Grand Bassa. But Kingjones said sadly, the company is constructing the washing machine in Nimba County which is outside of the agreement.
They said if the concentrator plant had been built in Grand Bassa County, over 2000 residents and citizens are expected to have jobs to support their families.
The protesters said the 2005 MDA restricted the company to only construct the washing plant in Grand Bassa County and not Nimba, an act they described as a complete violation and disrespect to the agreement signed with the Liberian government and the people of Bassa.
However, Abraham Kingjones and his team are calling on AML management to bring back the concentrator or washing plant that is currently under construction in Nimba County; else they will continue to embarrass or protest against the company until they stop their operations and forcibly leaves Grand Bassa County.
In recent times, the Civil Society Organization, Bassa Rescue Movement, Harlandsville Concerned Citizens Movement have had series of mass citizens’ meetings surrounding why AML management diverted the construction of the concentrator plant to Nimba instead of Grand Bassa.
They described the actions of the company management as an affront and disrespect to the people and leaders of Grand Bassa County, calling on them to respect the agreement and work accordance with it.