EUROPEAN UNION COMPLICIT IN HUMAN RIGHT VIOLATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA

MADRID, SPAIN, 18 May 2010 – Friends of the Earth International today
welcomed the ruling of the Permanent Peoples Tribunal, which condemned
the European Union and European financial institutions for supporting
criminal activities of European transnational corporations in Latin
America [1], singling out Unión Fenosa, Stora Enso and Holcim. [2]

The ruling was issued on the eve of the VI Summit of Heads of States and
Governments of the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean in Madrid, Spain.
[3].

After two days of hearing testimonies from civil society organizations
and indigenous communities directly impacted by the operations of
European transnational corporations in Latin America, an international
panel of judges urged the EU to establish a legal framework that allows
holding corporations accountable for crimes in Latin America, stop the
violations, repair their damages and grant victims access to justice.

It further asks the United Nations to establish an obligatory code of
conduct for transnational corporations and to expand the mandate of the
International Criminal Court of Justice from natural to legal persons
(corporations).

"We are pleased that the Tribunal challenges the EU's promotion of
policies that put corporate interests before peoples’ rights. Instead of
discussing further association agreements that ensure more profits for
companies, the EU, Latin American and Caribbean Heads of States should
ensure that corporations do not violate fundamental human rights," said
Sebastián Valdomir, International Coordinator of the Economic Justice
Program of Friends of the Earth International.

Friends of the Earth groups together with allies presented three cases
against European companies to the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal:

* The Spanish energy company Unión Fenosa was condemned for being
responsible for the persecution and assassination of community leaders
in Guatemala and Colombia, of violating labour rights and of depriving
the poorest of essential services by raising prices, and cutting
electricity supply in Guatemala, Mexico, Colombia and Nicaragua. The
Tribunal also warned about the impacts of a coal mining mega-project
planned by Unión Fenosa and Gas Natural in Guatemala and recommends its
suspension.

* The Swedish-Finnish forestry corporation Stora Enso was condemned for
being responsible for environmental destruction in Brazil and Uruguay.
The Tribunal further condemned the negative impacts on resources such as
water and biodiversity which are vital for the livelihoods of
communities near the Stora Enso plantations

* The Swiss cement company Holcim was condemned for being responsible
for cases of kidnapping in San Juan Sacatepequez (Guatemala) and
assassination of community leaders, the criminalization of communities
opposing the exploitation of their natural resources, and of
environmental destruction and pollution in Guatemala, México and Colombia.

The Permanent Peoples Tribunal also challenged the role of european
financial institutions (such as the European Investment Bank) and
development agencies which provide funds for destructive activities of
transnational corporations and urged them to adopt mechanisms that
guarantee the protection of human rights.

"The European Investment Bank claims to support sustainable development,
but it gives huge sums to destructive projects such as Stora Enso’s
eucalyptus monocultures in Brazil and Uruguay. Stora Enso now owns more
land in Latin America than in Europe, and it is the biggest land-owner
in Uruguay," said Christine Pohl of Friends of the Earth Europe.

"The economic policies of the EU, its banks and development agencies
promote growth and economic development to combat poverty, but in
reality they have only benefited the rich elites while the poor suffer
disastrous consequences," added Christine Pohl.
NOTES:

[1] The Permanent Peoples Tribunal (PPT) was established in 1973 as the
Russell Tribunal on Vietnam to address the institutional gaps in the
international legal system. The authority of the Tribunal's decisions is
guaranteed by the integrity of the jury, which consists of judges, human
rights lawyers, economists, political analysts, academics and human
rights activists.


[2] The Ruling is available at
http://www.enlazandoalternativas.org/IMG/pdf/TRIBUNAL_PERMANENTE_DE_LOS_PUEBLOS_definitivo.pdf

(in spanish, but soon in english too)

[3] The full EU Latin American and Caribbean Summit takes place in
Madrid today, 18 May 2010. The regional summits EU-Andean Community and
EU-Central America take place tomorrow, 19 May. On 16-17 May regional
summits with Mexico, Chile, Cariforum and Mercosur took place. More
information about the EU-Latin American and Caribbean Summit is
available at: http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/lac/index_en.htm