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December 4, 2008 4:42:21 PM CST

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US Families Sue Chiquita Over FARC Murders

Posted Mar 12, 08 11:00 AM CDT in World,  Business 

(Newser) – Fruit giant Chiquita stands accused in a federal lawsuit of contributing to the deaths of five US missionaries at the hands of Colombian rebel group FARC during the 1990s, the Wall Street Journal reports today. Families of the missionaries say protection money the Cincinnati-based company admitted to secretly paying the guerrillas helped finance the group’s activities.

Chiquita paid a $25 million fine to the US after admitting it paid FARC—and later a right-wing rival that gained control in the region—to leave its operations alone; the payments were illegal because the factions are on a US list of terrorist groups. The lawsuit—filed in Florida and seeking unspecified damages—contends Chiquita provided weapons and some logistical support to FARC.

Source Wall Street Journal

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A man carries a box of bananas given to him for free by banana producers protesting the alleged refusal by multinational Chiquita Brand banana company to pay producers more than then current US$5 per...   (Associated Press)
People walk out of the headquarters of banana distributor Chiquita Brands International in Cincinnati in this March 14, 2007 file photo. Victims of Colombia's bloody civil conflict filed an almost $8...   (Associated Press)
Chiquita bananas are piled on display at the Heinen's grocery store in Bainbridge, Ohio in this Aug. 3, 2005 file photo. Victims of Colombia's bloody civil conflict filed an almost $8 billion lawsuit...   (Associated Press)
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Department of Justice • terrorist • Colombia • FARC • missionaries • Chiquita • terror group


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