Deal #1393 Version #53269

The company did not obtain the consent of the local community before clearing of the land commenced, as required by the law. In March 2014, the President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, sided with the local communities in halting the expansion of the plantations. The community lodged a complaint with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil on 18 September 2013, prior to holding a protest however they were violently attacked during the protest, arguably by the company's security. Other violent attacks on local communities members opposed to the development have occurred. The community won the battle against the company in May 2014, which forces the company to retreat from community land. The company states that this is not true and instead of retreat from community land, the company signed an MOU with the community detailing where the company is allowed to plant palm oil.

The company was about to move forth with a survey of the remaining land, which many of the community members opposed because they already made the decision that they had no more land to give the company. Some of the villagers decided to present a petition to the Grand Bassa County supervisor, asking that the survey be prevented. Some villagers were beaten and detained for no reason. A spokesperson for the police confirmed sending their riot unit to confront and arrest some of the marchers, alleging that the marchers were threatening palm oil company property and the lives of its staffers. Four of the villagers involved in the conflict were hospitalized after the assault. There have been confrontations between EPO and the villagers in Grand Bassa County.

The company promised to dig wells for the local communities and bring in teachers and doctors. To date the company has not upheld its commitments in this regard.