Deal #1393 Version #90546

EPO states it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with all affected communities, but Gmenee village people say they have not seen such agreement and do not have a copy. Joghban clan have successfully resisted further encroachment of EPO on their land for years.

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. Several communities inform SDI that EPO is continuously intimidating, threatening and dividing communities into signing away their land.

Many violent attacks against community members who petition or fight back regarding the deal. On 28 October 2019. members assembled at the offices of Equatorial Palm Oil to express their frustrations over the company’s alleged failure to meet up with the Concession Agreement. The community feels as if their rights have been infringed by the company and its activities.

According to the 2017 Human Right Risk Assessment report, Equatorial Palm Oil has failed to respect several human rights pertinent to labor standards, livelihoods, health and property rights and is putting rights at risk in the future. A severe negative human rights impact results from the distinction between employees and subcontractors. EPO hires subcontractors as a lower cost alternative to the “employee” status, which confers benefits, such as holidays with pay, annual leave, medical care, housing, education for dependents, social group insurance. Despite outsourcing the majority of its labor to subcontractors, EPO retains a corporate responsibility to respect the rights of its subcontractors. Even for direct employees, working conditions are substandard, including lack of adequate personal protective equipment.

The company promised to dig wells for the local communities and bring in teachers and doctors. It also promised huge rewards if farmers agreed to the clearance of their land, at fixed amounts per plant for crops such as rubber and cassava.

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. For compensation for clearing their land, when the time came for payment EPO handed over less than 10% of what they were expecting.

Education for children as well as school bus, adult literacy program and clinics. The company is also participating in the Smallholder Tree Crops Revitalisation Support Project- so far 54 farmers have been identified. the Concession Agreement also calls for the establishment of an adult literacy program for Liberians, the company has failed to live up to that portion of the agreement since 2013 and now owes the community US$150,000. Water hand pumps to be established for affected communities. According to the LEITI 12th report the company has also maintained roads.

The company is also participating in the Smallholder Tree Crops Revitalisation Support Project- so far 54 farmers have been identified. the Concession Agreement also calls for the establishment of an adult literacy program for Liberians, the company has failed to live up to that portion of the agreement since 2013 and now owes the community US$150,000 (2019). Water hand pumps yet to be established for affected communities.

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. 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.