[Deuda-QdQ] Actualidad para la semana contra la deuda / negocios sucios de Barclays

[Ecologistas en Acción - Área de Agro]

-------- Mensaje original --------
Asunto: [BTinfo] Barclays on trial in US for Apartheid dealings
Fecha: Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:19:58 +0200
De: David Barnden <david en banktrack.org>
Para: infolist en banktrack.org

Press Release: Apartheid Profiteers Defeated in Court
Umzabalazo we Jubilee
13th of October 2007

On the 12th of October, the long awaited verdict of the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Second Circuit on the Khulumani v. Barclays et. al. court
case was handed down. The U.S. Court ruled that the case against the
corporations could go ahead despite strong opposition from both the South
African and the American Governments.

The Khulumani v. Barclays lawsuit charges 23 multinational corporations with
aiding and abetting Apartheid, and was initiated by 87 individual South
Africans, all of whom were victims of gross human rights abuses during
Apartheid. The lawsuit is based on common law principles of liability and on
the Alien Claims Tort Act, which grants U.S. courts jurisdiction over
certain violations of international law regardless of where they occur.

The decision of the US Court of Appeals marks a watershed moment in legal
history. By allowing the lawsuit to go to trial, the Court is allowing the
possibility of corporations to be held account for human rights abuses
outside of their home countries. If legal precedent can be made in this
case, the days of large companies actively supporting illegitimate regimes
will be over.

Umzabalazo we Jubilee fully supports the Court's decision, and looks forward
to the victims of Apartheid having the chance to obtain reparations from the
companies that provided the weapons, finances, and oil that the Apartheid
government required for its very existence. None of these companies appeared
before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, despite being requested to
do so.

Since 2005, activists from Umzabalazo we Jubilee have been engaged in a
bitter struggle with Barclays Bank (owner of ABSA bank). Barclays has
refused to come clean on its Apartheid activities, and has consistently
rejected appeals for it to apologise and make reparations to the South
African public.

The charges against Barclays Bank are indicative of the charges laid against
the other 22 corporations in the lawsuit:

*In 1976, Barclays bought R10 million in Defence Force Bonds and called it
an act of "corporate and social responsibility".
*Between 1972 and 1978, Barclays helped the Apartheid Government to obtain
nearly US$500 million in loans
*In 1974, Barclays participated in a US$15 million Eskom Eurobond issue.
*In 1979, Barclays purchased R20 million in SASOL shares.
*Between 1982 and 1984, Barclays' loans to South Africa totaled US$725.4
million.

For more information, please contact:

Makoma Lekalakala
Umzabalazo we Jubilee Spokesperson
Cell: 082 682 9177

Tristen Taylor
Umzabalazo we Jubilee
Cell: 084 250 2434


-- 
Tristen Taylor
+27 84 250 2434



-- 
David Barnden
BankTrack Human Rights Programme
Boothstraat 1c, 3512BT Utrecht
The Netherlands
tel: +31 302 334 343
skype: eldavorojo
david en banktrack.org
www.banktrack.org





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