Cameroon: Mbonjo - The Curse Of The Palm Oil. Survey!

Christian Locka - Riparian populations plantations of palm Society of Cameroon conduct an all-out battle for their rights violated with impunity. However, the agribusiness giant palm oil production controlled by Groupe Bollore , had resolved to keep commitments became visibly bulky. Survey Mbonjo peripheral to the economic capital of Cameroon locality.

"Feces were released at the request of the Socapalm" says Laurent Mouande. "She gave us the manager who took us to Mbonjo. We used déversions these materials in the city dump Bakokos. "

The weather is mild. A tanker maneuver near a creek in Mbonjo, a town of the district of Fiko-Bonalea located 40 kilometers from the economic capital. The shrill sound of the breeze motor ambient silent when two villagers passing stack fall: the machine pours feces on the small stream saturated with green herbs.

The walk ends there. This June 1, 2012, the two men turned back to the bad news to the people. A group of traditional leaders went on the site; before entering the Departmental Delegate of Environment and Nature Protection of Mungo denouncing "an unfortunate testimony of human excrement flushed down the toilet Socapalm camps and dumped in the locality Mboma "write their majesties Jean Eyondi and Martin Mbongo leaders Mbonjo I and II, the two villages that form Mbonjo.They state that this "backwater used to power everyday all populations Mbonjo I and II deprived of their old habits because of the foul odor of decay that can be discerned."

In the dock, a business. The Society of palm of Cameroon (Socapalm) is an agribusiness company palm oil output created in 1968 by the State. In 2000, Socapalm was privatized under the leadership of the World Bank; it became a limited company with a board of directors. The Socapalm is located in areas of the Coast , Central and South including Mbongo Dibombari (Mbonjo included) Eseka , Mbambou and Kienké. In these localities, it has vast plantations and settlements where employees housed.

Feces in water
Traditional leaders have identified the culprit of pollution in their correspondence. This is the joint initiative of the Group of Youth Groups Bomono-Bomono (GIC Gjbb), a service provider responsible for the maintenance of the green space to the Socapalm. Emptying the tank truck owned SMEs that impacted water and greenery. "At this point, feces had dried herbs," recalls Martin Mbongo majesty. A report stating the extent of damage is established by Master Francis Yinda, bailiff in the courts Mbanga. Legal proceedings are in the air.

Ex-employee Socapalm now retired, Mouande Lawrence is known for his outspokenness. In 2007, he created the GIC Gjbb to occupy youth Bomono-Gare, his native village. That same year, the ICG landed a maintenance of green space to Socapalm contract. The incident Mboma , it is explicit: "The feces were dumped at the request of the Socapalm. It was she who gave us the manager who took us to Mbonjo. " The delegate of the ICG says, "once we déversions these materials in the city dump Bakokos." He said, however that feces were instead deposited near the river.

Contacted, the Socapalm declined to respond. Despite this incident, this company has continued for two years to seek the services of the ICG. In July 2014, the Socapalm breaks "without notice" the contract with the GIC. The delegate, this unexpected separation is not related to the events of Mboma. But the sudden desire to dilute the Socapalm all GICs subcontractors into one. An incomprehensible decision that the GIC will not have time to study. It's the end of an adventure that should not be ashamed that Laurent Mouande; because, although the Socapalm he continued openly to lead the GIC. Conflict of interest? "No, I have not had a problem."

The villagers were preparing a complaint against the Socapalm and the IAG. She did not prosper. "We have withdrawn," said His Majesty Martin Mbongo. After his release, the case of human excreta resulted in pressures and corruption. "Some went looking for money," sighs Laurent Mouande. "People sometimes lose their dignity in relation to starvation. At that time, there were differences in Mbonjo. " He said he multiplied discussions with traditional authorities Mbonjo cover-up. People have finally pardoned the offending GIC but they kept intact a tooth against the Socapalm. An old dispute.

With over two thousand inhabitants, Mbonjo living from subsistence farming and small-scale fisheries. Sometimes, however, the surplus harvest is sold in nearby markets. Palm oil is the main resource of the community. In recent years, the working population can no longer concentrate on his farm activities. She lives each day as the last. "We do not have enough space for agriculture because we are victims of a savage expropriation of our land. The Socapalm said we have nothing. We are begging the spaces, "said His Majesty Martin Mbongo.

"We slept on palm"
In the seventies, the state had cleared out hundreds of people to Mbonjo II to create plantations nascent Socapalm. Heavy machinery for this purpose had destroyed homes, schools, churches and cemeteries. Some unfortunate people have taken refuge with relatives. Others slept under the stars. "Night on the fins is happening," recalls Martin Sonne Ngote. Very small, we did not understand what was happening. Gradually, I realized that the Socapalm is destroying and must déguerpisse my family. "

He fifties. In 1975, the young Martin lived Nkonbatang, a district of Mbonjo II razed. After a few days of wandering, his family takes refuge in Bekouma -actuel Mbonjo I-which is basically the time in a leadership and a house. But the evicted are not welcome. "We do not have peace here either," said Martin Sonne. William Nsangué Ewane, adds another claimant, desperate: "Our parents have destroyed forests to open and populate the village. The prefect sold portions of land to clear off but the descendants of the chief does not want that we exploit these lands. "

Cornered by the descendants of the chief, the evicted live in cramped home in the village. However, they must grow to survive. So they choose the terrain and hillsides left by the Socapalm. But the company was privatized and the new leaders do not see it that way. "We are caught between the hammer of the descendants of the head and the anvil of Socapalm. We asked the Socapalm, who said everything was sold, if it has a land title indicating that the peripheries belong to him; we have not seen this document. We want to know if it is the village that found Socapalm or vice versa "asks William Nsangué.

The status of the Socapalm changed June 30, 2000 out of sight of the villagers. So far, Etatcède 70% of its shares to the Company of palm of Cameroon (Palmcam), a company under Cameroonian law with complex ramifications. Palmcam is indeed a subsidiary of Compagnie Internationale de Cultures (Intercultures S. A), a Luxembourg holding company specializing in the operation of oil palm and rubber plantations. Intercropping, Palmcam majority shareholder, is itself a subsidiary of the Luxembourg Group Finance Corporation rubbers (Socfinal) who takes care of the technical and financial management as the Socapalm Socfin.

It is through the Intercultures Socapalm entered the portfolio Socfinal group. The Bolloré Group, the French businessman Vincent Bolloré, controls about 40% of Socfinal. The Group controls the Socapalm through major holdings held in foreign companies who are involved. Long remained in the background, its CEO realized he must get involved to settle disputes with neighbors over which the Group has interests, particularly in Cameroon.

According to the concession agreement, the state gave the leasehold Socapalm operate 78,529 hectares of rural land for a period of sixty years renewable once. Five years later, an addendum to lease back the area to 58,068 hectares. Both parties agree that the land not included in the addendum to the long lease will be transferred back to the village communities. These "land-lending to decentralized authorities for urbanization needs, inappropriate land for growing oil palm (swamp, mangrove and hilly), land containing public infrastructure," says Rider the lease.

A total of 20,466 hectares of rural land should logically return to the village communities. An area of ​​165 hectares was to remain the property of Mbonjo. Yet "surrender was never effective because we have not seen the space we state has surrendered. The Socapalm makes us understand that this space is that we currently occupy and that we no longer look forward to something. We say no, "Emmanuel Elong tonne.

This gentleman is the pebble in the shoe of Socapalm. Emmanuel eLong, faded jeans, small eyes and bright face, is the president of the National Synergy of farmers and residents of Cameroon (Synaparcam), an association that monitors compliance with the rights and interests of local communities to the plantations of the Socapalm. A foot or on his motorcycle, he entered the premises of the Socapalm as in a mill to prove the abuse of this company. His activism does not bother the Socapalm. "The prefects of localities where the Socapalm refused to legalize our association. They fear for their jobs. It is ultimately the prefect of Nyong and Kelle who issued us a receipt, "he said, fat smile. Mbonjo born there 45 years, this rural entrepreneur is a claimant in the soul.

In 1996, Emmanuel left school and creates an association of villages Mbonjo. Seeing young people without jobs despite the presence of Socapalm he organized a roundtable to discuss the conditions for successful integration between Socapalm, partnership development and local populations. The meeting is a hit. He was invited by the media. The Director General of the Socapalm of the time asks for a list of disaffected youth of Mbonjo. They are included as subcontractors giant agribusiness.Thus was born the Synaparcam. "I do not want to reduce the claim plantations Dibombari says Emmanuel; but expand wherever Socapalm is located. "

Symbolic victories
The Socapalm is the largest producer of Cameroon with over 42% of the crude oil market. Its subsidiary, the Company of palm Switzerland Farm (SPFS), owns approximately 24% of the market of refined oil sold under the name "Palm'or." Over the years, the Socapalm thirsty land. This appetite ogre reduces the space of living brandishing Article 6 / h of the long lease that "the buyer agrees not to replant the plots with an area of ​​250 ha located around communities village without first administration have distracted any parcel approached as living space. " In places, the oil palm belt of Socapalm closely dwelling houses.

The Synaparcam then took the lead. When Socapalm did not meet their demands, Emmanuel and his comrades were blocking roads leading to the palm to prevent employees of the company work. "Some village elites sent our names to Socapalm which in turn seized the police. Later, there are arrests, threats, notices and warning administrative authorities. Some young people were fleeing the village first fear. This is why Synaparcam lived long in the bush, "said Emmanuel, who knew that the fight would be long to enforce the rights of the people.

A Mbonjo there is no source of clean water or health center. Lembe Sophie, 21, made women give birth at the age of 11 years. She started home. "I did my birth mother my last two sisters. When contractions begin, she told me what to do until the release of the baby, "says the young Cameroonian nigeriano. As Sophie, ten women became TBAs lack of a hospital. For quality care, people traveling to or Nkapa Souza-station, about ten miles away. Water side, a faucet built and abandoned by an NGO, competes in size with weeds. These failures irritate residents. But the Socapalm has a tip.

Overwhelmed by the claims, Socapalm is building a platform for dialogue with the administrative authorities, and traditional elites. The Synaparcam is not invited. On 24 November 2011, during a meeting of the platform, the program reveals its Socapalm rejuvenation and replanting of palm on 500 ha Mbonjo the following year. His representative explained that "new techniques now allow showcase formerly abandoned because they are too steep or other constraints surfaces. Thus, in addition to replant about 500 ha, the Socapalm expects to recover approximately 100 additional acres by first drawing a perimetrale "track, it said in the report of the meeting.

To do this, the Socapalm proposes an agreement in principle to residents saying it will destroy all food crops, perennial and occupy wild lands on the blocks concerned. She refuses to surrender any ground. In return, the villagers must commit "not to grow palm oil and rubber." The sub-prefect of Fiko-Bonaléa present at the meeting, it then sends a notice to the target population measures of Socapalm. "I have the honor to request you to collect and dispose of your crops before 1 January 2012, provided for preparatory burn their time (Socapalm, ed) plantations," says Landry Oscar Ngui. He had not reckoned with the determination of local residents.

A month later, gear Socapalm begin the destruction of crops. But people do not let it go. For three days, she organized, led the Synaparcam, a sit-in to block the activities of replanting Socapalm. "The administrative authorities have sent the forces threatening us with tear gas. Police found some moms sitting barefoot; others had no underwear. They said to expect anything and that their land can not leave. " The Socapalm offers compensation for crops destroyed, the residents refused the offer. They want to quietly occupy the spaces left by the state.

The mood movement grows. The Sub-Prefect of Fiko-Bonalea is confused. Forthwith and under pressure from residents, he wrote to the plantation manager of Socapalm Nkapa. "I have the honor to ask you to stop work on the space quarreled until further notice," Landry reacts Oscar Ngui. Local residents relieved, lift the sit-in. "We opposed the negotiations are ongoing. They (Socapalm, Editor's note) are afraid of the reaction. They know that once they start going, we will address them.They do not like to have clashed with us, "says Her Majesty Martin Mbongo. After he stopped a few years ago to Socapalm to plant rubber trees in Mbonjo Emmanuel and his family have won one second symbolic victory. Without government help.

The government's silence
Each year the Socapalm pays to the Treasury the sum of 140 million CFA f representing the rent for 29,000 hectares it says operate effectively.For nearly five years, the company is growing and interesting benefits. For the single year 2013, dividends of about CFAF 5 billion should be distributed to its shareholders including the state, which owns 20%. Under these conditions, the Socapalm hangs in the balance and the government struggles to maintain an equal balance in the conflicts between the riparian company. According to the concession agreement, a monitoring committee was to be established by the government to assess the commitments Socapalm. Fourteen years later, he still has not been established.

Even if true, this committee would hardly objective. Because "the operating expenditure of the Committee will be approved and supported by Socapalm" says the agreement. Approached the Technical Commission of Privatization and Liquidation (CTPL) declares itself incompetent on the monitoring and evaluation component. The CTPL tip the Technical Committee of Rehabilitation (Ctr). Entering turn the unreacted Ctr. Just as President of the Board of Directors of the Socapalm. Chuckle, a director of the Socapalm states that "the administrative authorities must decide on land demarcations between Socapalm and residents based on the law." Residents, they have drawn their conclusions.

"There is a complicity between Socapalm and government that I can not define" His majesty Mbongo Martin said. "Local authorities do not have enough power on Socapalm. For a long time we demand and we still have nothing. The government's silence on this issue is clear. " Local government authorities are limited to avoid disturbing public order. They have no standing to influence Socapalm. "There is nowhere in the contract that a local administrative authority must monitor the privatization," said an administrative source. "You have to ask those who have been authorized to act in this matter to do their job. It is not the responsibility of a Deputy Warden or Warden. "

Conflictual relations between residents and the Socapalm have expanded internationally. After three years of investigation, two Cameroonian associations (Ced, FOCARFE) and two European NGOs (Sherpa, Misereor) had filed a complaint in 2010 against the Socapalm and certain of its shareholders of weight for violation of guiding corporate principles of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). They accused the company of pollution, to intimidate people, poor working conditions and lives of its employees, among others. Since then, Socapalm has acquired the equipment to reduce the noise from oil mills and processing lagoon waste waters and built garbage bins in some camps. But the inhabitants of the camps are Mbonjo such forbidden to throw garbage in these bins.

"The tanks were full of garbage. The staff did not come Socapalm the drain. Socapalm finally brought a machine to remove waste and forbade anyone continue to pay the garbage on these concrete tanks. Now our garbage is poured in the oil palm as before, "said a resident of the camp. Moreover, waste held for the treatment of water are sometimes found in nature. Despite these attacks on the environment, Socapalm remain credible with organizations who say they do not compromise on social and environmental responsibility. This is the case of the Company for the promotion and participation for Economic Cooperation (Proparco).

Group subsidiary French Development Agency (AFD), Proparco is a financial company to promote the development of the private sector in the same geographical areas as the AFD. Proparco participated in the capital increase of Socapalm, amounting to 1.5 billion FCFA, upon entering the Douala Stock Exchange in 2009 on its website, said Proparco intervene in development companies "with high standards for environmental and social responsibility." In the case of Socapalm, a subsidiary of AFD closed his eyes. When contacted, she did not wish to comment. Was she aware of the state of relations between the Socapalm and residents?

"Proparco could not but be aware," said Samuel Pommeret responsible study CCFD-Terre Solidaire, a French NGO. "The recurring tensions over the Socapalm plantations have been many articles in French and Cameroonian press. In addition, four associations filed in late 2010, on the basis of their investigation, a complaint Points Belgian, French and Luxembourg national contact for non-compliance with the OECD Guidelines. " Large French CAC 40 companies dominate the board Proparco. The idea of ​​the funding agency to support the industrial development of the Socapalm is welcomed but his working methods are criticized.

Vincent Bolloré reacts
"What followed the AFD she made on the social and environmental impacts of the projects it supports, including those of its subsidiary Proparco? And above all, what consistency of French policy development. In the case of Socapalm, the investment was made at the expense of the most vulnerable populations, and thus development "tip Maureen Jorand responsible advocacy mission CCFD-Terre Solidaire. Some accuse the media hexagonal Proparco to be guided by the profitability of the projects it funds more than their actual impact on the beneficiaries. Riparian palm oil plantations are feeling better these shortcomings in local development, are organized in their own way.

Wednesday 5 June 2013 Farmers and riparian areas controlled by the Bolloré Group plantations organize simultaneous protests in Cameroon, Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone. They denounce the excesses of African Societies of Socfin and claim the protection of the habitat and clearing landlessness. In Cameroon, some fifty members Synaparcam, all in black and red, laid siege to the general direction of the Socapalm Douala. "We were in black and red to express grief and blood compared to what is happening with our land. We had hands a document that included our demands. After hesitating for several times, the Chief finally meet us, "says Emmanuel.

In Côte d'Ivoire, the protesters are blocked by security forces. In Sierra Leone, after a brief meeting, the event is canceled for safety reasons. Date and at the same time, a general meeting of Shareholders of the Bolloré Group is held in Paris in France. Parisian representatives protesters submit a document containing the claim to Vincent Bollore, CEO of the Group. The businessman said he would Breton intervene personally on the issues raised by the protesters. A few months later, farmers and residents unhappy create an international alliance of coastal plantations Bolloré-Socfin and require transnational meeting.

The French businessman can not resist. He summoned to Paris in September 2014, a seat with the leaders of peasant organizations and residents of Cameroon, Cambodia, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Côte d'Ivoire. "This meeting in France, will be an opportunity to share with you on how to promote dialogue in each country. I remain convinced that this effect is in the field, with teams Socfin that the best solutions will emerge, "writes Vincent Bolloré. Bordering Mbonjo high hopes based on this exchange. Emmanuel, he exults in moderation. He knows that in a negotiation, nothing is taken for granted.

cameroonwebnews, August 27, 2014
Survey conducted with financial support from the Fund of Investigative Journalism (FIJ)