Global Witness | 10 March 2014

Community members of Jogbahn clan, Liberia celebrating news of President’s commitment to stop Equatorial Palm Oil from expanding its plantations on to their lands, March 2014.

NGOs welcome Liberian President’s commitment to stop British palm oil company “taking” community land

Global Witness and Save My Future Foundation (SAMFU) today welcome the commitment by the Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, to make any expansion by the British palm oil company Equatorial Palm Oil (EPO) onto Jogbahn Clan land dependent on the approval of the communities affected.(1)

EPO has been accused by the communities of taking their land and clearing it without their consent.(2) In September 2013, community members were apparently beaten and detained by EPO security staff and the Liberian police on their way to lodge a complaint about the expansion to the authorities.(3) The company denied that it acted without community consultation or outside Liberian law.(4)  The commitment by the President marks a significant victory in the battle for customary land rights to be respected….
– See more at: http://www.farmlandgrab.org/post/view/23253#sthash.A6eHfWhe.dpuf