December 7, 2021
By: Aruna Kamara
Residents of Malen Chiefdom in Pujehun District have called on President Julius Bio to ensure that there is permanent solution to the protracted problems in the chiefdom relating to land gabbing by multinational companies including Socfin Agriculture Company.
They made this statement at a one day stakeholder’s dialogue forum on UN Guiding Principle on Business and Human Rights and Sexual and Gender Base Violence (SGBV). The engagement which was organized Foundation of Human Right and Democracy, took place at the Sahn Community Hall last week Saturday.
“We are not against development in the chiefdom but wants development that will bring peace in the chiefdom. We are not against Socfin Agricultural Company but the manner at which we land holding families were treated is what we are against but we are calling on government to ensure that there is a lasting solution in the chiefdom.’’ Hindolo Musa, one of the residents of Malen Chiefdom said
“We want to thank UNDP for supporting Foundation of Human Right and Democracy to organize such a dialogue session, which has clearly helped us to know that the government has the responsibility to protect our right and the multinational companies including Socfin Agricultural Company, must respect these rights and the government needs to provide the remedies to burning issues in the communities.’’ he said.
Brima Koroma noted that with this kind of knowledge that we have now, they want to call on the presidential taskforce set up by the President Bio headed by the Vice President to find lasting solution around the conflicts in the Malen chiefdom with regards the operation of Socfin Agricultural Company as some of us are not happy over the way land holding families are treated in the chiefdom.
The Paramount Chief Representative, Patrick S. Alpha said that the Local Police Partnership Board (LPPB) has a crucial role to play in conflict resolutions and called for the respect of the law.
He however said that the health and safety of workers is very key and also urged some residents of Malen allegedly involve in the stealing of the agricultural products of Socfin Agricultural Company to desist from it as these are potential sources of conflict.
Emmanuel Jusu, another resident of of Sahn Malen, stressed on the need for the business enterprises to respect the human rights of the local people where they are operating as they are enshrine in the UN Guiding Principal on Business and Human Rights.
The Chairman of Civil Society Forum in Pujehun District, Ibrahim B. Swarray said that child labor policy should be enforced in areas where the multinational companies are operating, adding that he is happy to see Foundation of Human Rights and Democracy, a civil society led organization engaging the people of Malen Chiefdom on UN Guilding Principle on Business and Human Rights.
He explained that there is need to popularize it for the people to understand the content of the document so that they can be in a better position to protect and ensure that their rights are respected by these multinational companies.
Osman Margai, one of the stockholders in Malen Chiefdom urged the multinational companies to ensure that the local content policy is strictly adhered to and that the government should ensure that business enterprises go by the local content policy in order for Sierra Leoneans to get jobs.
The National Coordinator of Foundation of Human Right and Democracy, Jarai Barrie said that the organization is committed to ensuring that the rights of the people are protected and respected and he wants to thank the UNDP for providing the funding to come and popularize the UN Guiding Principle on Business and Human Rights and also discuss issues around sexual and Gender Base Violence, which must be stopped.
Taimiew Fofanah, the Lead Facilitator said that Moyamba and Pujehun are among the two districts being assessed to be hotspots for conflicts, as there are mining activities and other business related activities going on and the human rights of people are not respected or protected.
He added that the people are grumbling and several reports are being made to the security sector and the Human Rights Commission.
He said that it is good for the people to understand the UN Guiding principle and raise awareness around SGBV, as a human right issue and that he was impressed with the participation of people as they highlighted a lot of human rights issues in Malen Chiefdom and are calling for permanent solution towards it.
