IPNEWS: Reports coming in from Grand Cape County, particularly Matambo town says villagers today besieged one of the camp of the Bea Mountain demanding adherence to a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the company’s management during the reign of its former manager identified as Ali.
The management of the mining company has filed a formal complaint with the Liberia National Police for investigation.
Those kidnapped include one Turkish expat, Sabahattin Urekli and two Liberians – Armah Boakai and Tokpah Mulbah.
IPNEWS gathered this week that the people of Cape Mount where the mining company has its concession has been making some demands for employment of cape mountinians before others, including the granting of scholarships to deserving students hailing from Cape Mountain county which has not been addressed by Bea Mountain authorities.
Bea Mountain has a Mineral Development Agreement with the Government of Liberia representing the People of Liberia including Grand Cape Mount. The MDA provides for several obligations and rights to the Government and Bea Mountain. The company’s obligations under the MDA also provide certain benefits to the communities in which the company operates. However, the communities continue to demand extra benefits from the company outside the agreement with the Government.
Amidst the growing tension in the gold rich Kinjour and other parts, Bea Mountain insist it is executing its obligations as provided for under the Mineral Development Agreement (MDA), the company still voluntarily decided to engage the community to negotiate some of their demands. While in these discussions, the community particularly in Matambo kidnapped one Turkish and two Liberians (not Cape Mountainians).
The alleged kidnappers are, meanwhile, assured the company that the hostages are safe and would be turned over to the company if a ransom was provided.
They have requested 10 bags of rice, two tins of oil, two cartoons of fish, cartoons of chicken, a bag of onion and US$1,500 to meet the demands of tradition.
