PHOTO: A scene from the protest
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
As protest intensified at the Bea Mountain Mining Company in Liberia’s western Grand Cape Mount County, one person is feared dead, after Police Support Unit (PSU) officer assigned at the company facilities in Kinjor fired live bullet on Monday.
But police spokesman Moses Carter said, according to what he gathered from his officers in this County no one died as a result of live bullet.
Monday’s violent protest came amid a groundswell of disenchantment expressed by workers over poor pay and working conditions.
The Bea Mountain communication officer, Henry V. Vincent could not confirm the death news, because he told Journalists that “the place is tense” and therefore, he could not make his way to where the protest was taking place.
A baby was also tear gas
Recently, Chief Zanzan Karwon and other Zoe members visited the mining facility to put things under control, but their visit there was said to be meaningless to the workers and residents.
Last Thursday, January 6, 2021, Kinjor in Grand Cape Mount County got tensed, following the unleashing of the King of the Land or the traditional Country Devil.
The workers and some locals are demanding the exit of the SOGUSS Security Film from Kinjor and since Thursday of January 6, 2022, business people including others who are not members of the traditional “Poro” society were indoosr.
According to the residents, since SOGUSS security was hired by the Bea Mountain Company some 15 years ago, they haven’t had a single meeting with them, they alleged that the Security film has denied their children job opportunities.
Prior to their the unleashing of the King of the land (Country devil) lastThursday, the residents wrote the Company, the Cape Mount Legislative Caucus including the Grand Cape Mount County authorities. But there were no redress, prompting their action from Thursday up to Saturday January 8, 2022 .
Superintendent Aaron Vincent of the County last Friday, January 7, 2022 went to resolve the issue but his efforts were not taken into consideration by citizens.
However, three Members of the County’s Legislative Caucus recently called on protesters in Kinjor to calm down and end their protest, promising that their demands will be addressed to the fullest.
The protestors are also demanding for the pavement of the road from Kinjor to Daniel Town, the electrification of Kinjor, Turkish doing Liberian jobs should be asked to leave. Other demands are that those Liberians who were recently sacked by the Bea Mountain Company must be reinstated; and before they start their operation in Weajue, they asked that the company must relocate the town.
The three lawmakers– Senator Simeon Taylor, Representative Bob Sheriff and Representative Emerson Kamara–called on the protesters to remain moderate and not to destroy anything.
The King of the Land or “Country Devil” took over the entire Kinjor on Thursday, January 6, 2022. They also called for the exiling of the SOGUSS Security firm.