The Association Technique Internationale des Bois Tropicaux (ATIBT) has paid tribute to a Liberian timber industry executive “assassinated” in the country’s capital Monrovia.
Victor Hannig, who ran a small company for many years, had spoken to ATIBT as recently as the end of October and wrote an article called “Observations of the Liberian Timber Association” in its newsletter on conflict timber last year.
Jean-Jacques Landrot, ATIBT president, said Mr Hannig had told him he was trying to re-launch his sawmill production to be ready for when the UNO lifted the embargo and to pay his workers.
Mr Landrot said: “He pleaded with me to insist towards the UNO of the urgency to re-launch the timber activity, an industry of such importance for Liberia. Unfortunately, fatality came quicker than our actions.”
