MONROVIA – A group of families, claiming to be the original landowners of the property currently utilized by Bea Mountain Mining Corporation, have issued a stern warning of legal action against organizers of the recent violent protest in Kinjor, which resulted in three deaths and numerous injuries.
In their statement, the families, operating under the banner “Administrators of The Estate of Gbiydu Kolleh, Gboko Dablo, Sando Brown, Dowan B. Dablo, Garboi Dablo, And Zinneh Dablo, Et. Al,” claimed they are rightful owners of the land in Kinjor and leased it out to Bea Mountain Mining Corporation (BMCC).
They emphasized their commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that all accused individuals receive fair legal proceedings.
“We resolved to adequately deal with such lawlessness by pursuing all the perpetrators through the criminal Justice system of Liberia starting with police investigation so as to bring all of the perpetrators to justice,” the families said.
On the 28th and 29th of February this year, a two-day protest rocked the BMMC operation site. Protesters, demanding better pay for workers and other amenities breached anti-riot police safety lines and stormed the company’s area, destroying properties and burning down the police station. By the time things returned to normalcy, three people lost their lives and dozens of others including protesters and police officers sustained gun wounds and other injuries.
The families disclosed that they were not notified or involved in the planning of the protests against BMCC, which resulted in significant property damage and loss of life. They alleged that certain individuals, known to the estate’s administrators, were behind the violent protest and subsequent threats against their lives.
“The protestors and their collaborators who are well known to the Administrators physically destroyed the home of Mr. Boakai L. Taliferro, an Administrator of the estate and Mr. Mohammed K. Daramie an heir of the estate. On the second day, 29th of February, these same protestors and their collaborators damaged the Estate’s Kia Motor Pickup beyond repair.
According the Administrator, they gathered that the protesters destroyed the house of Mr. Boakai L. Taliferro, and Mr. Mohammed K. Daramie, and the vehicles owned by the Estate because the two individuals instructed the Liberia National Police to use tear gas and shoot live bullets at the protesters.
They debunked the allegations that they instructed the Liberia National Police to use force against protesters, asserting that such claims were false and baseless. The families expressed deep concern over ongoing threats to their safety, which forced them to relocate to Monrovia.
The said: “Following the two days protest, these same protestors continued to threaten the lives of Mr. Boakai L. Taliferro, and Mr. Mohammed K. Daramie, through text messages, phone calls and verbal communications threatening to kill Mr. Boakai L. Taliferro, and Mr. Mohammed K. Daramie, whenever they return to Kinjor. This behavior of these protestors to threaten to murder peaceful citizens caused the aggrieved individuals to escape from Grand cape Mount County and now reside in Monrovia and these aggrieved individuals are afraid to return to Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County. The threat to Kill is clearly a criminal act and constitutes terroristic threats which crime is punishable under the Penal Code of Liberia.”
‘Legal duty to protect the LESSEE’
Highlighting their legal obligations as lessors to BMCC, the families underscored their duty to protect the lessee from third-party claims on the property.
They denied any involvement in the violent protests and reiterated their commitment to resolving disputes through dialogue.
The families emphasized their track record of advocating for the interests of both property owners and the wider community, citing ongoing infrastructure projects aimed at benefiting residents of Grand Cape Mount County. They called for swift and decisive action by the Liberia National Police to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the violence.
The said: “As already stated above, It should further be noted for the record, that the Estate Administrators and heirs of the aforesaid Estate at no time, prevented BMMC Management from implementing its Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) as alleged by the protesters or any other agreement signed with the Government of Liberia or other parties through which benefits intended for the citizens of Grand Cape Mount County are due.
In fact, the Administrators of the Intestate Estate have been very instrumental in holding management of BMMC accountable for its legal obligations due to the Cape Mount community at large. This advocacy for the people of Cape Mount had been going on from the inception of the Administrators engagement with the company in 2013, up to present. This Country is governed by laws and any and all disputes must be handled legally and should not result in violent riots like the one which took place on the 28th and 29th of February, A. D. 2024 in Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County.”
In conclusion, the families stressed the importance of resolving disputes through legal channels and condemned the violent riots that occurred in Kinjor. They affirmed their determination to pursue criminal charges against perpetrators and called for a respect for the rule of law in all dealings.