Web Letters: 'Para-politics' Goes Bananas

Pure potassium ignites when exposed to water. Bananas contain much nutritional potassium, but it's not enough to explode--however, plantains have become explosive. How dangerous is your banana?

The Geneva "Human Rights Tribune" newsletter recently gathered information investigating Chiquita's involvement in terrorism. Chiquita's American headquarters were contacted and Communications Director Mike Mitchell admitted: "...Today we have farms in Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala and Honduras and continue to buy bananas in Colombia, but without directly owning the plantations."

Chiquita did not own the plantations in Columbia, but they continued to hire unsanctioned militia groups to protect their business interests violently while brutalizing workers forming labor unions. It amounted to industrial terrorism. Jose Humberto Torres, Colombian lawyer and activist with the Solidarity Committee for Political prisoners, met with the Human Rights Tribune in Geneva.

"My organization is going to formally ask the American government that the 25 million dollar fine [against Chiquita] be used to compensate the victims of these abuses and their families. We are also going to request a prison sentence for Chiquita’s top management for having financed an organisation responsible for murders, terrorism, forced disappearances, sexual violence and forced recruitment. We are asking that truth, justice and compensation for the victims be recognised," Jose Humberto Torres stated.

On the Net: http://www.humanrights-geneva.info/article.php3?id_article=1353

* * * *

As early as the mid 90's, Chiquita was suspected of violating human rights, violating labor laws, and interfering in foreign government policy.

General failures of the [American] and Guatemalan [governments] to ensure respect for labor law and basic rights of banana workers were presented as the key issues of a study and petition filed in mid-June by the AFL-CIO and by US/GLEP along with IUE, UE, and the International Labor Rights Fund. The study asked that the U.S. Trade Representative review Guatemala's eligibility for duty-free trade benefits. Chiquita, other businesses, militant organizations, and the Guatemalan government were suspected of continuing worker rights violations.

Women continue to walk the streets [of Guatemalan cities and towns] with fear that they could at any moment be abducted and killed. According to the Guatemalan National Civilian Police (PNC) the number of women killed has risen steeply from 303 in 2001 to 665 in 2005. Exceptional cruelty and sexual violence characterize many of the killings. Some of the victims had their throats cut, were beaten, shot or stabbed to death. Many of their bodies show signs of rape, torture, mutilation or dismemberment.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

* * * *

US policy makers claim to be fighting a "War Against Terrorism", but their actions with Chiquita have been supporting and encouraging terrorism in Guatamala, Columbia, and throughout South America. George W. Bush claims to be liberating Iraq. No one claims to be liberating Banana Republics from American corporations. American corporations are maintaining Banana Republics that neglect human rights and encourage violence while further destabilizing foreign governments. America continues it's terrorist operations against the world in pursuit of globalization and political dominance.

We want things cheap and easy, forgetting that something gained in one place equals something lost in another place. Excess in this market equals depletion in another country. Labor unions are being strangled in impoverished countries, silencing any representation that would exist for the average working, and corporations don't blink or hesitate while murdering democratic practices. It's sickening, but ordinary Americans don't stop during the day to think about the rest of the world.

We're not useless or helpless. Something as easy as an e-mail to Chiquita can affect corporate public relations and policy. Everyone deserves an honest day's wages for an honest day's work. Countries have the right to autonomy and self-determination without American interference. Our goal is too assist the weak, but we've forgotten that we are our brother's keeper.

Jerie Leep

Tenkiller, Oklahoma

Thanks to Michael Evans and the NSA Archive for adding layers to this story.

Earlier this week, a Cool'Eh Magazine blogger asked if the US was sending money to Colombia knowing full-well that at least some of it was making its way to the AUC and other terrorist paramilitaries.

Evans' article and these declassified documents seem to answer the question. As was noted on Cool'Eh today in response to Evans' work, somebody needs to be asking if the US knowingly contributed, albeit indirectly, to an organization they classified as terrorist.

Conor Risch

New York, New York