A federal court in Florida has ordered the renowned American banana company "Chiquita Brands" to pay $38.3 million in damages to the families of 16 individuals killed by an armed right-wing group funded by the company during Colombia's prolonged civil war. This ruling sets a historic precedent as it marks the first time a private American company has been convicted of human rights violations in another country. It is also the first judgment issued by an American federal court that condemns a major banana company in similar cases currently pending in the United States.
The court held the American company accountable for financing the infamous "United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia" (AUC), which is accused of killing thousands during the Colombian civil war. Chiquita Brands, which runs its banana operations out of Florida, stated in a press release following the ruling: "The situation in Colombia was tragic for many. However, this does not change our belief that there is no legal basis for these allegations."
Despite admitting to paying $1.7 million to the armed group in Colombia between 1997 and 2004, the company insists that it did so out of fear for its employees and operations. The ruling has sparked controversy on social media, with Colombia's President Gustavo Petro questioning why the American justice system can hold the company accountable while the Colombian counterpart has not. He called for the establishment of a court to uncover the truths regarding the conflict that ended in 2016.
