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US Families Sue Chiquita Over FARC Murders

Claim protection cash to Colombia rebels tied to missionary slayings

By Jim O'Neill,  Newser User

Posted Mar 12, 2008 11:00 AM CDT
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(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.

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 box of bananas, in Panama City, in this Thursday, Nov. 22, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Arnulfo...
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 billion lawsuit against the U.S. banana importer Chiquita Brands International Inc. on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007 for making...
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 against the U.S. banana importer Chiquita Brands International Inc. on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007 for making...
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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Money • World

 
Department of Justice • Colombia • terrorist • missionaries • Chiquita • FARC • United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia • New Tribes Mission • terror group

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