{"id":86580,"date":"2017-02-13T12:00:26","date_gmt":"2017-02-13T12:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=86580"},"modified":"2017-02-07T14:53:53","modified_gmt":"2017-02-07T14:53:53","slug":"colombian-companies-charged-with-crimes-against-humanity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2017\/02\/colombian-companies-charged-with-crimes-against-humanity\/","title":{"rendered":"Colombian Companies Charged with Crimes against Humanity"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the first time, private companies were charged with crimes against humanity as part of the transitional justice system.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/a>

The U.S. based Chiquita company has been heavily embroiled with the scandal.
Photo: Reuters<\/p><\/div>\n

4 Feb 2017 – <\/em>Around 200 local and international\u00a0companies are facing charges for crimes against humanity for allegedly financing paramilitary death squads in northern Colombia, local media reported.<\/p>\n

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On Thursday, the Prosecutor General\u2019s Office announced that for the first time private companies were charged with crimes against humanity as part of the\u00a0justice system put in place as Colombia makes its transition to peace after more than 50 years of war between the government and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia<\/a>, or FARC.<\/p>\n

As part of the transitional justice model, FARC members, as well as thousands of civilians, companies and government officials have been accused of war-related crimes.<\/p>\n

Multinational companies, including Del Monte, Dole Food Company\u00a0and Chiquita were named for\u00a0voluntarily financing right-wing paramilitary groups in the northern banana-producing region of Uraba.<\/p>\n

The so-called \u201cBanana Block\u201d\u00a0was an umbrella organization of the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia, or AUC, and controlled territory in the area to protect the banana producers<\/p>\n

One of the most feared paramilitary groups in the country, the AUC was deemed a terrorist organization by the Colombian government and disbanded in 2006. The group was responsible for a number of massacres, human rights abuses, kidnappings and extortions that resulted in the displacement of thousands of Colombians.<\/p>\n

Right-wing paramilitary groups are estimated to be responsible<\/a> for the majority of killings\u00a0during Colombia\u2019s bloody conflict, which has left millions dead. These paramilitary\u00a0groups often enjoyed the support of the country\u2019s politicians.<\/p>\n

Alvaro Uribe,\u00a0former Colombian president and\u00a0major\u00a0critic of the peace deal, had supported the formation of legal self-defense organizations.<\/p>\n

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According to the Prosecutor General\u2019s Office, the funding for the Banana Block\u00a0was funneled through\u00a0Convivir Papagayo group, which was given legal certification under Uribe\u2019s plan.<\/p>\n

Other high profile companies, including Coca-Cola<\/a>, Colombia\u2019s largest beverage company Postobon, cement company Cementos Argos and state oil company Ecopetrol, have been accused of financing death squads through what is commonly referred to as the \u201cpara-economy.\u201d<\/p>\n

httpv:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=qVJipfwY104<\/p>\n

Go to Original \u2013 telesurtv.net<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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