Chevron Cleared of Charges in Nigerian Human Rights Case
by Alex Smith, San Francisco, California 
on 12. 4.08
Photo Credit: San Francisco Sentinel
The jury in a San Francisco federal court this week cleared Chevron of charges for human rights abuses committed in NIgeria. More details on the decision and its impact below the fold.
The Bowoto v Chevron case we covered last month was centered around a conflict in Nigeria 10 years ago. Larry Bowoto and 100 other Nigerians were staging a peaceful protest on a Chevron oil platform demanding talks between the corporation and local villagers about job training and opportunities. Locals have lost work and seen their livelihood decline with the negative environmental impact resulting from Chevron's presence. When protesters were told Chevron would not engage in talks, Nigerian soldiers flown in by helicopter opened fire on the villagers. Two were killed and others were wounded.
Chevron was being charged for torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, assault, battery and negligence. If the jury found the corporation guilty, it would have been the first time in history an American corporation was charged in an American court for human rights abuses abroad.
According to Reuters,
The lawyer for the plaintiffs had argued that Nigeria military forces landed on Parabe to retake the platform were on Chevron's payroll and supervised by the company.Chevron in a statement said it was gratified by the jury's verdict. "It was never Chevron Nigeria Ltd's intent that anyone on the platform be harmed, and we deeply regret the loss of life and injuries that occurred," the statement added.
More on Chevron:
Chevron in Ecuador
Bowoto V Chevron
Chevron's Inhumane Energy
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"It was never Chevron Nigeria Ltd's intent that anyone on the platform be harmed, and we deeply regret the loss of life and injuries that occurred."
What does that mean? That the soldiers *were* on their payroll and under their supervision, but it was an accident?!
It's interesting that you are using a photo by the San Francisco Sentinel. Pat Murphy, who operates the online publication, works for a public relations firm in San Francisco that has had Chevron as a client. Murphy consistently writes pro-Chevron articles about every controversy the oil company finds itself in across the globe. At one time, he advertised on his site that he would write an article about a company or person for a fee. When the Amazon Defense Coalition wrote a press release asking him if Chevron had paid for its coverage on his web site, Murphy took it down. His publication is not credible.
On my way into work by one day in the Delta oil production region of Nigeria, I once witnessed a Halliburton geologic survey crew convoy stopped by farmers mounting a peaceful protest. This oil service company had been drilling holes and setting off seismic charges in the area, including inside the farmers’ fields, resulting in seepage of crude oil to the surface, contaminating the soil, surface water and any nearby shallow wells. The farmers were expressing their desire for compensation with a selective road block but in an otherwise non-violent manner. In less than fifteen minutes after the trucks rolled to a stop, a detachment of Nigerian Army troops showed up to break up the protesters. Luckily nobody got shot that day. You have to understand that in the event of a crime if you want the police to show up in that region, you typically have to provide some financial incentive plus transportation – forget 911. Ambulances? No such thing. However, all vehicles and crews associated with the oil industry have a direct radio hotline to the nearest military battalion command – and expect first class service. Any delay to oil production is very costly.
The idea that Chevron officials did not expect the army to use force after inviting them in is simply preposterous. Did they think the army would come to negotiate with the protesters?
naturally they would be cleared of charges, our government supports this kind of merciless exploitation.
Chevron got away with this one, but hopefully they’ll pay for what they did in Ecuador. Dumping 18 billion gallons of oil and toxic water into the streams, contaminating drinking water, destroying people’s lives cannot go unpunished! Over 1,000 people have died from cancer and thousands more are sick with skin disease and respiratory illnesses. If you want to find out more about what is surely the largest environmental disaster on the planet, read this blog, http://www.thechevronpit.blogspot.com
There’s also a very good article that appeared a couple days ago on Bloomberg. You will want to read it: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&refer=&sid=aymV5i.4yp.E