The arrest and prolonged detention of Mary Boimah, a prominent labor rights advocate, has ignited widespread concern over the treatment of workers and the suppression of dissent in Liberia.
Boimah, president of the Salala Agricultural Workers Union of Liberia (SAWUL), has been held at South Beach Prison in Monrovia for over three weeks on arson charges linked to labor protests at the Salala Rubber Corporation (SRC). Supporters claim her detention is an attempt to silence her activism, while SRC management alleges she was involved in violent unrest that led to property destruction.
Boimah has long been a vocal advocate for fair wages, better working conditions, and the enforcement of Liberian labor laws at SRC, a major rubber plantation owned by Indian businessman Upjit Singh Sachdeva, popularly known as “Jeety.” Witnesses say tensions escalated during recent negotiations when workers protested alleged unfair treatment, culminating in the burning of a plantation manager’s residence and looting of company property.
While SRC insists Boimah played a role in inciting the violence, labor activists and human rights defenders argue there is no substantial evidence linking her to the arson. Instead, they view her arrest as retaliation for her leadership in organizing workers.
The case has drawn sharp criticism from labor groups and citizens who accuse the government of failing to protect workers’ rights.
“Mary is dying in a cell, and no one is listening,” said Titus Nyuma Korfeh, a concerned Liberian. “She is being punished for standing up for workers who are exploited daily. Is this the justice we deserve?”
Critics also allege that Sachdeva’s influence may have played a role in Boimah’s swift detention without trial, though no direct evidence has been presented. The Indian businessman has not publicly commented on the accusations.
The controversy has shed light on broader labor issues in Liberia, with reports emerging of similar mistreatment at other foreign-owned businesses, including a prominent hotel under investigation for alleged labor violations.
As pressure mounts on Liberian authorities to address Boimah’s case, activists demand transparency, due process, and an end to what they describe as systemic intimidation of labor organizers.
For now, Mary Boimah remains behind bars, her fate a litmus test for workers’ rights in Liberia. Will justice prevail, or will her detention serve as a warning to others who dare to speak out? The nation waits for answers.
