3,000 Guthrie rubber plantation workers have clashed with police over delays in salary payments, according to this AFP article. More notably, Sen. Laha Lassana of Bomi County (where the plantation is), had told striking workers several weeks ago to go back to work, promising that their salaries would be paid. This didn’t happen. When Lassana visited the plantation on Friday the workers took him hostage. When police arrived, Lassana took out his two pistols (did the hostage takers not give him a pat down?) and fired into the crowd, seriously injuring three strikers. Lassana denies firing at anyone.
Someone should write a book about the Guthrie rubber plantation. You could tell the story of post-war Liberia through the lens of what’s been going on at this plantation.
Hello Shelby….You are right….. the plantation is a good example of the transition. I am working on an article about it……comming soon
Could you email me the article when it comes out? I would love to read it, and I could link to it from this blog.
Thanks,
Shelby