U.S. COURT ORDERS CHIQUITA TO PAY $38M FOR COLOMBIA ABUSES

A US federal jury in southern Florida has ordered Chiquita Brands International, best known for its bananas, to pay $38 million in compensation to the families of eight Colombian men killed more than two decades ago by the right-wing paramilitary group United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC).

'These deaths represent less than 1 per cent of the claims for killings that have been filed against Chiquita in US courts”, said Marco Simons, general counsel for EarthRights International. 'There are thousands of claims that have been filed.'

Years ago, Chiquita pled guilty to paying the AUC $1.7 million from 2001 to 2004, arguing the funds intended to protect company employees from guerrilla groups. However, the AUC has been found guilty of committing mass human rights abuses and murdering civilians from 1997 to 2006.

This is another case in which a Global North-based multinational company, in its quest for profits, has left a trail of blood and suffering in the Global South.