The Price Of Bananas

Steve Kroft On How Colombian Paramilitaries Landed A U.S. Corporation In Hot Water

(CBS)  "Dole and Del Monte say they never paid you any money," Kroft tells Mancuso.

"Chiquita has been honest by acknowledging the reality of the conflict and the payments that it made; the others also made payments, not only international companies, but also the national companies in the region," Mancuso says.

"So you're saying Dole and Del Monte are lying?" Kroft asks.

"I'm saying they all paid," Mancuso says.

Mancuso has been indicted in the U.S. for smuggling 17 tons of cocaine into the country. He said he was more than willing to tell U.S prosecutors anything they want to know.

"Has anyone come down here from the United States to talk to you about Dole, or to talk to you about Del Monte or any other companies?" Kroft asks.

"No one has come from the Department of Justice of the United States to talk to us," Mancuso says. "I am taking the opportunity to invite the Department of State and the Department of Justice, so that they can come and so I can tell them all that they want to know from us."

"And you would name names?" Kroft asks.

"Certainly, I would do so," Mancuso says.

So far, the only company that has been charged with paying money to terrorists in Colombia is the one that turned itself in.

"Do you think if you hadn't gone to the Justice Department and disclosed the situation, that anything would've happened to you?" Kroft asks.

"Well, Mr. Kroft, if we hadn't gone to the Justice Department, we probably would not be here talking about this whole issue. No one would know about this," Aguirre says.

---

Since our story aired, Salvatore Mancuso has been extradited to the U.S. to face drug charges, and the Colombian government has stepped up its investigation of Dole. Two jailed paramilitary leaders have corroborated Mancuso's claims that they received protection money from the company.

[paulsmmrs]

The 60 Minutes story failed to report Chiquita Brands long history of paying money for influence without regard for the people they hurt. From their days as bribing ruthless tyrant United Fruit Company politics to hefty money for influence here in the US. Huge contributions to the Clinton Administration and other politions led to sanctions against European countries for not buying enough of Chiquitas bananas. Countless small US comapnies became unwitting victoms to 100% tariffs imposed on the products they imported from Europe. Chiquita is an American company that doesn't sell American products. But it's no suprise Chiquita executives want to take their chances with US authorities where they can once again use political connections rather than be extradited to Columbia and face the charges against them.

[fush2]

who cares lets all grow bananas in our backyard over the summer...

[cbsblogger]

Corporations are now the backbone of the GOP and the nemesis of the USA.

[acolton1]

Posted by njbernard at 12:29 AM

Please Don''t Cut and Paste the same thing over and over again. People read it once and we get your point.

Thank YOU !

[acolton1]

Costco in Kansas City has not had Bananas for the past 3+ weeks.

[bseer]

While Chiquita is part of the problem without a doubt this story all but ignored the roll of cocaine money in this violence. All user of cocaine are therefore party to these killing as the corrupting influence of drug money on Columbia makes the sins of Chiquita very small by comparison.

The criminal activity fuel by cocaine users can be seen from the streets of Baltimore to the hills of Columbia. CBS, the people with blood on their hands are the Chiquita executives AND anyone (some in your employ) who has spent the money to fund this violence.

[jerr11]

The price of Bananas!

How about the price of Halliburton''s profits?

So far:

4071 Dead Americans.

$3 trillion squandered.

$4 a gallon gas.

The Price of Bananas?

Guess we''ll have to ask that prize chimp in the white house.

[njbernard]

I would compare Colombia ''s Bananas with
CONGO and Coltan (columbite-tantalite). Regional analysts say the international demand for coltan is one of the driving forces behind the war in the DRC, and the presence of rival militias in the country.
Companies use tantalum to make a variety of electronic devices, including laptops, DVD players and cell phones.
http://geology.about.com/od/conflictminerals/a/coltan.htm

[njbernard]

I would compare Colombia ''s Bananas with
CONGO and Coltan (columbite-tantalite). Regional analysts say the international demand for coltan is one of the driving forces behind the war in the DRC, and the presence of rival militias in the country.
Companies use tantalum to make a variety of electronic devices, including laptops, DVD players and cell phones.
http://geology.about.com/od/conflictminerals/a/coltan.htm

[njbernard]

I would compare Colombia ''s Bananas with
CONGO and Coltan (columbite-tantalite). Regional analysts say the international demand for coltan is one of the driving forces behind the war in the DRC, and the presence of rival militias in the country.
Companies use tantalum to make a variety of electronic devices, including laptops, DVD players and cell phones.
http://geology.about.com/od/conflictminerals/a/coltan.htm

[andrew_693]

I guess these paramilitary forces that chopped children''s heads for fun are the new "freedom fighters" (the substitutes of alquaeda) sponsored by the republican christian administration. I can see us invading them to steal their oil and bananas in order to make haliburton or another republican company rich with blood money. Why do you think they send the missionaries around the world? that''s the scout party.

[uscorrupt]

www.chiquitadealings.com this is not new and chiquita is not the only one soon when bush lives office te usa will now about all the corruption usa corporatons have done i colombia and how the politicians profit from plan colombia this is part of bush-uribe deals usa people do not deserve to be treated like this thats why we need to expose all of this politicians and dea corruptions www.therealityofplancolombia.com

[as141]

you know what they can do with there bananas! Dole and delmonte are probably guilty to.

[liriko-2009]

Did Mr Aguirre miss to mention the hiring of paramilitaries to kill union leaders like coca-cola did? if the FARC are the only bad guys and they are loosing this war, who is taking control of the coke plantations? why are we witnessing more and more violations to the human rights under Mr. Uribe regime?

[concern21]

The guerillas are the bad guys. Colombia voted in a landslide for a president who would stand up against the socialist movement and traffickers. Americans need to do their part stop using cocaine.

[prairiefox1]

THE DAMAGE IS IRREVERSIBLE !

[prairiefox1]

AND IF YOU THINK BAROKE LABOMBA WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THINK AGAIN!

[prairiefox1]

THANKS TO PRESIDENT (ESSO BEE) AND OUR FAILED GOVERNMENT THIS NATION WILL BE UNABLE TO FEED ITSELF SIMPLY BECAUSE WE DON''T MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO SO!
THIS COMING WINTER WE WILL FREEZE TO DEATH BECAUSE WE CANNOT AFFORD THE GAS TO DO SO! IF WE BURN WOOD TO SURVIVE THIS CONTINENT WILL BE STRIPPED OF ALL TREES AND THE DELIVERY OF FOOD WILL CEASE!
AND ALL OF ITS CITIZENS WILL CRY AS THEY DIE!

[redhoffer]

concern21 -

You have American Economic Interests who are financially supporting murdering guerillas in a foreign country under the watch of GW Bush....

and you somehow manage to blame H. Clinton and/or Obama?

Nice.

Keep drinking the koolaid....

[jboxton]

I''ll bet Barack Obama is going to make this a top priority as I hear bananas are his favorite food.