Colombia: Chiquita faces “terror” lawsuit

U.S. banana firm Chiquita Brands is a defendant in lawsuit brought up by the relatives of family members killed by Colombian paramilitaries. Earlier this year, Chiquita agreed to pay a $25 million fine in a plea deal where the company admitted to hiring paramilitary groups to provide security on its Colombian facilities. This is expected to be used as a key piece of evidence against Chiquita, according to the relatives’ main lawyer:

“Given that Chiquita has pleaded guilty to the criminal aspects of this case, it is going to be extremely difficult for them to say they are not responsible in any other way for what happened down there.”

A spokesman for Chiquita confessed that he has not seen the lawsuit, but affirmed that the company hired rebels “to protect the lives of employees and their families.”

Image- Al Jazeera (Colombian paramilitary troops)

Sources- BBC NEWS, The Latin Americanist, CNN, Edmonton Sun