A farmer rides a bike loaded with plantains next to a truck with the logo of the US corporation Chiquita Banana. Photo: Esteban Felix/AP.
The banana multinational Chiquita Brands, previously know as Chiquita Banana, was found guilty by a US court of financing paramilitary groups in Colombia.
After 17 years of legal process, a court in West Palm Beach (Florida) found the company responsible for financing the far-right United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), reported EarthRights International, a firm that provided legal support to the victims of paramilitarism, on Monday, June 10.
According to the organization, the jury’s decision “confirms long-standing accusations,” making clear that Chiquita Brands, in order to generate profits, “delivered resources to the AUC even though it was aware of the atrocious acts committed by that paramilitary group.” AUC was used also by the Colombian oligarchy and the White House to fight against left-wing guerrilla groups in Colombia.
Por primera vez, un jurado en Estados Unidos ha declarado responsable a una gran corporaciĂłn estadounidense por su complicidad en abusos contra los derechos humanos en otro paĂs.https://t.co/YOM5Z6rDcN
— EarthRights Intl (@EarthRightsIntl) June 10, 2024
What comes next?
The US-based multinational corporation was ordered to provide more than $38 million in compensation to the victims of Colombian paramilitarism. Chiquita announced that it will appeal the ruling, reported Colombian mainstream media Caracol.
According to EarthRights International, nine victims participated in the hearings of the case. Their family members had been murdered by the AUC. “However, the legal process against Chiquita includes hundreds of victims, whose cases may be resolved in subsequent trials or through an eventual agreement,” the organization added.
EarthRights International explained that although the case is being conducted in the United States, the Colombian Civil Code applies because the US company committed the crime in Colombia. Following Article 2341 of the Colombian Civil Code, Chiquita will have to compensate the victims for the damages caused.
Article 2356 also applies, which establishes that any damage caused by dangerous activities must be compensated by the person or entity who caused it, which is similar to US laws in the matter.
Colombian Paramilitary an “Illegitimate Son of the Colombian State” (Salvatore Mancuso)
“Strong message”
“It is a triumph in a process that has been going on for almost 18 years, for all of us who have suffered so much during this period,” said one of the victims after the ruling was made. “In this process there is a debate on justice and reparation. We have been fighting since 2007. We are not in this process because we want to; it was Chiquita, with its actions, that put us in this. We have a responsibility to our families and we must fight for them.”
Marco Simons, legal director of EarthRights International, said that this verdict “sends a strong message to corporations around the world that profit at the expense of human rights: their actions will not go unpunished.”
“These families, who suffered the violence of armed groups and corporations, demonstrated their strength and were able to triumph in the judicial system,” he added.
(RT)
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/SC
