The Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) and the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia (IRCL) have called on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to constitute an Independent Committee to probe the recent protest incident in Bea Mountain in Grand Cape Mount County that reportedly led to the death of two persons.
In a statement issued at the weekend, the LCC and the IRCL are also asking President Boakai to kindly ensure inquiry into other concessions to prevent similar occurrences.
The religious groups believe that such an independent body will be objective and ensure transparency in its findings and recommendations, aimed at seeking lasting solutions to the concerns of workers at concession companies.
The groups said the Independent Committee, when set up, would dig deeper to unearth the contending concerns of the people in the concession areas to avoid future disturbances at other concessions around the country.
The LCC & IRCL say the police which is a key participant in the protest should not be the ones to investigate the very incident it is conflicted in; hence, they believe the police participation would undermine the true essence of transparency and fair play.
“The LCC & IRCL are on notice that the very police have been accused of firing live bullets on the protesters; it is for this and other reasons that we believe the police should not be player and referee in this matter; consequently, without police involvement the credibility of the committee would be enhanced,” the two groups said.
They recommended that part of the Terms of Reference of the Independent Committee should be to investigate the operations of Bea Mountain following reports and allegations that they have reneged on several provisions of their concession agreement signed over a decade ago.
In closing, the Liberia Council of Churches and the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia want citizens of Grand Cape Mount County to remain calm as the Government exercises all efforts to bring the situation under control.
