Relatives of Colombia Death Squad Victims Sue U.S.-Based Fruit Giant Chiquita Sued for Arming, Funding Their Killers

The Cincinnati-based fruit company Chiquita was sued Thursday for funding, arming and supporting terrorist organizations in Colombia. The human rights groups EarthRights International filed the class action lawsuit on behalf of six Colombians whose relatives had allegedly been murdered by a Colombian paramilitary group that was partially funded by Chiquita.

The lawsuit alleges that the banana giant funneled money and guns to a right-wing death squad that murdered thousands of people and shipped untold amounts of cocaine to the United States.

Part of the lawsuit is not in dispute. Earlier this year Chiquita admitted one of its subsidiaries paid about $1.7 million to the right-wing paramilitary group United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia which is also known as the AUC. The group is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department. Chiquita also agreed to pay the U.S. government a $25 million fine.

At the time Chiquita defended its actions saying it fell victim to an extortion racket that threatened its employees.

Chiquita spokesperson James Thompson: "The payments made by the company at all times were motivated by the company's good faith and desire and concern for the safety of all of its employees. Nevertheless, we recognize the obligation to disclose the facts and circumstances of this admittedly difficult situation to the United States government and the Department of Justice."

But authorities in Colombia have taken a different view. Colombia's attorney general said in March that he will seek the extradition of eight Chiquita employees allegedly involved in making the payments. The attorney general, Mario Iguaran said: “The relationship was not one of the extortionist and the extorted but a criminal relationship... When you pay a group like this you are conscious of what they are doing.”

We invited Chiquita to join us today but they declined to come on. However Chiquita spokesperson Michael Mitchell did send us a written comment. He said in part: “Chiquita Brands International categorically denies the allegations made by the attorneys for EarthRights International. We reiterate that Chiquita and its employees were victims and that the actions taken by the company were always motivated to protect the lives of our employees and their families… Chiquita has already been the victim of extortion in Colombia. We will not allow ourselves to become extortion victims in the United States. We will defend any preposterous suit of this nature vigorously.”

Marco Simons joins us in Washington.

• Marco Simons. Legal Director of Earth Rights International.

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