Coca-Cola accused of allowing murder at plants

WASHINGTON - Coca-Cola has become embroiled in a court case in which a bottling company in Colombia stands accused of allowing paramilitaries to murder trade union officials.

The drinks producer was named in a suit brought by a human rights group last night.

It said there was a "campaign of terror" waged against unionists at plants used by Coca-Cola, enforced by members of "paramilitary groups working as agents of corporate concerns" in Colombia.

"This is an extremely serious case. It alleges that Coke is allowing its employees to be murdered in their plants," said Terry Collingsworth, a spokesman for the International Labour Rights Fund, which is bringing the case with the United Steel Workers Union.

The abuses are alleged to have taken place at plants owned by the Florida-based firm, Panamerican Beverages, which is also named in the suit, placed before a court in Miami.

The campaigners claim that Coca-Cola Inc has a legal responsibility for what takes place in the plants because of the nature of its contract with the owners.

Dan Kovalik, a lawyer with the United Steel Workers Union, said the aim of the lawsuit was to "try to get Coca-Cola to quickly take some affirmative actions to prevent this type of thing from happening in the future".

He added: "If we cannot get Coke, one of the most well- known companies in the world, to protect the lives and human rights of the workers at its worldwide bottling facilities then we have a long way to go in making the global economy safe for trade unionists."

Also named as a plaintiff in the suit, which is seeking undisclosed damages, is the estate of Isidro Segundo Gil, a trade union leader who was murdered while working at a Colombian bottling plant in Carepa.

It is claimed that the manager of that plant specifically threatened to kill union officials if they continued their activities.

A spokesman for Coca-Cola, Rafael Fernandez Quiros, said: "We do not own or operate the plants. Wherever we operate, we adhere to the highest ethical standards. Wherever we do business ... we adhere to the highest standards of business practices."

No one from Panamerican was available for comment.

- INDEPENDENT