Chiquita charged in terror investigation

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

They get fined chump-change for having people killed. Oh, well, it's not like they were 13 year old Afghans threatening us and needing an endless prison sentence in Guantanamo without a trial.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070314/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/terrorism_bananas_15

WASHINGTON - Banana company Chiquita Brands International said Wednesday it has agreed to a $25 million fine and admit paying a Colombian terrorist group for protection in a volatile farming part of the country.

The settlement resolves a lengthy Justice Department investigation into the company's financial dealings with terrorist organizations in Colombia.

In court documents filed Wednesday, federal prosecutors said the Cincinnati-based company and several unnamed high-ranking corporate officers paid about $1.7 million between 1997 and 2004 to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia.

The AUC has been responsible for some of the worst massacres in Colombia's civil conflict and is responsible for a sizable percentage of the country's cocaine exports. The right-wing group was designated by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization in September 2001.

[Mojorabbit]

1. My best friend's aunt

was kidnapped in Columbia in the 80's. They held her for six months and it took a lot of moola to get her back but she was treated well. Her husband had a heart attack and died after being roughed up and he was in a wheelchair at the time. Not an easy place to live or do business.

[knitter4democracy]

2. At least they got them on something.

We all know how much they and Dole and US Fruit, etc., have done in Central and South America for decades. Entire villages murdered, unions busted, people kidnapped and murdered for asking for a raise . . . Whatever we can do to put those people away and fine the hell out of the corporation is fine by me.

[brook]

3. For more:

Yes, We Ain't Got No Bananas- but we got a helluva history!