'Firestone responds', 18 Nov 2014: Firestone responded...to...ProPublica and FRONTLINE...Firestone...had to acknowledge the Taylor government or abandon the concession...[they] chose to stay...Firestone’s management negotiated the best terms they could under the circumstances. At the time of the MOU, there was no well-established record of Taylor’s human right violations...Taylor’s armed forces occupied Firestone’s facilities against the wishes of the company...and...took whatever they needed, including trucks, food, medical supplies, fuel and equipment...Firestone was powerless to prevent it...Firestone worked with all relevant parties to ensure...minimal damage to the plant and facilities, that its employees received food, medicine and other crucial items…Firestone also assisted NGOs in transporting vital goods... [f]or...relief operations...work[ing]...with such groups as Catholic Relief Services and MSF (Doctors Without Borders) in providing food to at least 70,000 persons...At no time did Firestone have a collaborative relationship with Charles Taylor. The company’s activities were focused on protecting its employees and property...