[Peace-discuss] Landmark Trial: Abused Burmese villagers v. Unocal

[Margaret E. Kosal]

Haliburton, while under Cheney's watch, also profited off the SLORCs 
repressive dictatorship.
More info at http://www.earthrights.org/unocal/
Cheers to EarthRights International!!!

mek

>It is the first case in U.S. history in which a corporation will
>stand trial for human rights abuses committed abroad..... Paul Hoffm
>an, a lawyer for the plaintiffs [abused Burmese villages who lived
>near the pipeline], said today, "This is an important decision, not
>only because it allows Unocal to be held liable for abuses committed
>overseas, but also because it tells other multinational corporations
>that go into business with repressive dictatorships that they are
>responsible for their partner's human rights violations... fyi-janet
>
>==========================
>
>http://www.earthrights.org.
>
>For Immediate Release: June 11, 2002
>
>CONTACT:    Richard Herz    202-466-5188
>                         Paul Hoffman    310-396-0731
>                         Dan Stormer    626-585-9600
>
>COURT ORDERS UNOCAL TO STAND TRIAL FOR ABUSES IN BURMA
>Burmese peasants and oil executives to meet in California courtroom
>
>
>Los Angeles and Washington, DC, June 11, 2002 A landmark human
>rights lawsuit against Unocal Corp. will be going to trial in
>California Superior Court in September, following today's decision by
>Judge Victoria Chaney rejecting the oil giant's attempt to dismiss
>the case. The suit challenges human rights abuses committed by the
>notoriously brutal Burmese military on behalf of Unocal's Yadana
>Pipeline project in southern Burma. It is the first case in U.S.
>history in which a corporation will stand trial for human rights
>abuses committed abroad.
>
>
>"We presented the court with irrefutable evidence that the Burmese
>military forced villagers to perform hard labor against their will
>and committed widespread human rights violations for the benefit of
>Unocal's project," said Richard Herz of EarthRights International, co-
>counsel for the plaintiffs. "Unocal was dealing with the devil. Now
>they will have to answer to a jury."
>
>
>The plaintiffs in John Doe I et. al. v. Unocal Corp. et al. are
>villagers who lived near the pipeline. Some were forced to work on
>pipeline infrastructure by the military, Unocal's project partner.
>The remainder suffered other egregious abuses during the military's
>provision of "security" for the project. For example, two of the
>plaintiffs were sexually assaulted, and one, an infant, died after
>being kicked into a cooking fire.
>
>
>Paul Hoffman, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said today, "This is an
>important decision, not only because it allows Unocal to be held
>liable for abuses committed overseas, but also because it tells other
>multinational corporations that go into business with repressive
>dictatorships that they are responsible for their partner's human
>rights violations." Co-counsel Dan Stormer concurred, stating  "After
>six years of litigation, the plaintiffs will finally have their day
>in court. We are confident that a jury reviewing the facts of this
>case will be horrified. We expect a huge verdict on their behalf."
>
>Plaintiffs are represented by Paul Hoffman of Schonbrun, DeSimone,
>Seplow, Harris and Hoffman; Anne Richardson and Dan
>Stormer of Hadsell & Stormer, Judith Brown Chomsky, Jennie Green of
>the Center for Constitutional Rights and EarthRights
>International.
>
>
>###
>
>
>Additional information on the case can be found at
>www.earthrights.org.
>
>Katie Redford, Esq.
>EarthRights International
>1612 K Street NW
>Suite 401
>Washington, DC 20006
>tel: 202 466 5188
>fax: 202 466 5189
>www.earthrights.org