Monrovia, Liberia – Two deaths have been confirmed by Inspector General of Police Gregory Coleman as a result of a violent protest that resulted in the police using guns.
At a press conference over the weekend, Inspector General Coleman stated that while the police grieve the deaths of two civilians, peace has returned to Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County.
He said that the community policing approach is still being used by the police to closely monitor the situation. He claimed that two police officers were shot during the rally in Kinjor, bringing the total number of injured officers to nine.
But reports from the county say three residents of the town of Kinjor in Grand Cape Mount County tragically lost their lives as a result of a violent demonstration against the Bea Mountain mining firm. This was a startling turn of events. Protesters with long-standing grievances against the mining firm allegedly turned the demonstration into a violent altercation with state security stationed at the concession area.
Residents of Kinjor had been complaining about the effects of mining operations on the environment and the apparent lack of benefits to the community for months, which had led to tensions. Residents staged a large-scale protest in the streets to demand justice and equitable treatment as their frustrations reached a breaking point.
Conflicts between the demonstrators and security personnel soon spiraled out of control, resulting in mayhem and violence. Three residents died among the disturbances, adding to the already tense environment in the area.
Legislators from Liberia intervened to bring peace back to Kinjor in reaction to the terrible deaths and increasing violence.
In order to address the root causes of the disturbance and put an end to the protest, a group of legislators headed by Hon. Yekeh Y. Kolubah, Hon. Emmanuel Dahn, Hon. Mohammed Dosii, Hon. Foday Fanhbulleh, Hon. Bintou Massalley, and others traveled to the town.
