"Liberia: Salala Rubber Corporation (SRC) Under Fire, as 22 Communities Complained of Abuses"

Communities in Margibi and Bong Counties, represented by Green Advocates International (GAI) and three of its local partners, filed a complaint with the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO), against the operations of the Salala Rubber Corporation (SRC) in Margibi County (Liberia)...

The complaint relates to a series of gross human rights abuses perpetrated against the indigenous people in SRC’s concession areas, ranging from land grab and forced eviction, lack of free prior and informed consent of the indigenous peoples (FPIC), destruction of their ancestral graves and sacred sites, economic displacement and loss of livelihood, the pollution of their waters, poor employment conditions, and labor rights violations by the company, limited access to schools and health facilities. The company has been engaged in sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), reprisals, threats and intimidation, including non-compliance with national and international laws, as well as non-compliance with IFC’s Performance Standards...

The SRC denied the charges during the investigative mission to Liberia by CAO. The Company argued that all the legal procedure for obtaining the concession area were followed...