Source: Press TV
March 18, 2007
Chiquita, one of the world's top producers of banana, has been accused of financing a right wing military group operating in Columbia, Brazil.
The U.S. banana giant was reportedly making monthly to the Self Defense Forces of Columbia, the AUC, in exchange for protection of its properties.
Colombia, which is seeking prosecution of executives involved, has accused Chiquita of paying more than $1.7 million to the paramilitaries, known to have committed some of the worst atrocities of this Andean country's guerrilla war.
The period under investigation occurred from 1997 to 2004. Chiquita, meanwhile, claims that the payments were solely to protect the welfare and safety of their employees.
Sun Times Media Group said Chiquita's former chief executive, Cyrus Freidman Jr. who headed Chiquita from 2002 to 2004, could be called in for questioning.
Chiquita, on the request of Juan Pablo Corlazzoll, Columbia's United Nations High Commission for Refugees representative, has agreed to pay a 25-million dollar fine as part of a settlement with the U.S. department of Justice.
