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In a landmark legal decision, a federal court in the United States has found Chiquita Brands International liable for financing the Colombian paramilitary group known as the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC), designated a terrorist organization by the US government. This ruling, stemming from a comprehensive civil case initiated by eight Colombian families seeking justice for relatives slain by the AUC, mandates Chiquita to pay a substantial $38.3 million in damages.

The court proceedings, conducted in South Florida, underscored Chiquita's acknowledgment that it had made payments exceeding $1.7 million to the AUC between 1997 and 2004. These payments reportedly began under duress after AUC leader Carlos Castaño implied threats against Chiquita's Colombian operations. Chiquita defended its actions by asserting it sought to protect its Colombian workforce amidst the AUC's pervasive violence.

Critics, including plaintiffs, argued Chiquita's financial dealings constituted an unscrupulous partnership while expanding in AUC-controlled territories, despite the US categorization of the AUC as a terrorist group from 2001. The AUC, initially formed to safeguard landowners from leftist insurgents, evolved into a formidable criminal enterprise involved in drug trafficking, extortion, displacement, and targeted killings, boasting up to 30,000 members at its peak.

Though officially disbanded in 2006 following a peace agreement, splinter factions perpetuate violence, complicating Colombia's post-conflict landscape. The recent class-action lawsuit scrutinized nine specific cases among numerous claims against Chiquita, revealing the AUC's culpability in eight of nine examined murders, underscoring the group's brutality and Chiquita's complicity.

Post-verdict, Chiquita expressed condolences to victims and families, recognizing Colombia's ongoing tragedy, while reiterating its legal objections to the awarded damages. Plaintiffs' attorneys hailed the verdict as a long-awaited triumph of justice, praising their clients' resilience in holding Chiquita accountable through the US legal system, emphasizing the decision's significance in attributing responsibility for terrorism financing.

Another lawsuit, scheduled for July, signifies continued legal challenges against Chiquita, highlighting persistent repercussions from its past actions in Colombia and ongoing pursuits of accountability by affected parties.