Sime Darby and landgrabs in Liberia
Land grabs and human rights violations exposed in Liberia ahead of global development summit
MONROVIA, LIBERIA, February 1st, 2013 – Palm oil companies are grabbing more than 1.5 million acres of land in Liberia and are violating the human rights of local communities, warn Liberian NGOs including Friends of the Earth Liberia (SDI - Sustainable Development Institute), Save My Future Foundation (SAMFU) and Social Entrepreneurs for Sustainable Development (SESDev).
Fact Sheet - Sime Darby and land grabs in Liberia
The contracts for land concessions signed by Sime Darby and the Liberian Government violate several Human Rights principles in conventions ratified by the Liberian Government as well as principles enshrined in Liberian Law. Affected communities and civil society have organised to demand from the company and Liberian Government that communities’ rights are recognized and contracts between Sime Darby and the Government are renegotiated. Read more in this fact sheet.
Liberian Town Chief talks about Sime Darby
October 2012 interview with the town chief of Momblitaa, in Bopolu District, Gbarpolu County. Momblitaa is located directly the concession area allocated by the Liberian government to Malaysian palm oil company, Sime Darby. According to the contract and the concession map, Momblitaa can be encircled with palm trees and lose access to farmland and forest resources at any time the company decides to develop the land. The contract was signed without the knowledge or input of communities like Momblitaa, despite containing terms that grant the company nearly 700,000 acres for a renewable term of 63 years.
Video Testimony from Liberia by Woman Whose Land was Absorbed into Oil Palm Plantation
This woman tells a public meeting about her experience and what happened to her land. Palm oil companies are grabbing more than 1.5 million acres of land in Liberia and are violating the human rights of local communities, warn Liberian NGOs. On the eve of a United Nations meeting in Liberia, Friends of the Earth International is backing the local NGOs’ demands - including renegotiation of contracts for land concessions and a reassessment of the Liberian agricultural development strategy on which these concessions are based.
Civil Society Organisation statement
In response to recent developments in Liberia’s agricultural sector, a coalition of Liberian civil society organizations offer a formal statement on events that have transpired in the past few years. Liberia presently finds itself embroiled in an international controversy over the allocation of huge concessions to foreign oil palm concessions, with numerous observers commenting on the troubling circumstances faced by communities whose land was leased away without their consent.
Community statement
A statement by Community Members affected by Sime Darby and Golden Veroleum Concessions clarifying the background to the situation and outlining the way forward.
Letter from Superintendent of Gbarpolu County, Allen Gbowee
Letter from Superintendent of Gbarpolu County, Allen Gbowee sweeping aside the concerns of the communities and the Sustainable Development Institute on the flimsy pretext that the concerns are 'bad for development'.
Report: Uncertain Futures - The impacts of Sime Darby on communities in Liberia
A report outlining the impacts of Sime Darby's operations on communities in Liberia
Sime Darby's Response to Uncertain Futures Report
Sime Darby reply to the findings in the Uncertain Futures report.
Sustainable Development Institute Response to Sime Darby
In order to propose a solution to the current crisis rather than continue to dwell on the problems, SDI offered a three-point plan for the government, companies, and communities. Unfortunately, rather than engaging with the substance of SDI’s proposal, Malaysian oil palm producer Sime Darby chose to attack our credibility and make a series of false allegations about SDI and its supporters at Friends of the Earth.
Human rights analysis
Human rights-based analysis of the agricultural concession agreements between Sime Darby and Golden Veroleum and the Government of Liberia Tom
Concession Agreement with Sime Darby
Amended and restated Concession Agreement Between The Republic of Liberia and Sime Darby Plantation (Liberia) Inc, April 30, 2009
Concession Agreement with Golden Veroleum
An Act to Ratify The Concession Agreement Between The Republic of Liberia and Golden Veroleum (Liberia) Inc., September 1, 2010
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