The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
February 18, 2011

Both Sides Challenge Chevron Ruling in Ecuador 
-----------------------------------------------



In Ecuador, both sides in the lawsuit over Chevron's contamination of
the Amazonian rainforest have filed challenges to a verdict reached
earlier this week. On Monday, an Ecuadorian judge ordered Chevron to pay
an $8.6 billion fine, and an equal amount in punitive damages, for
dumping billions of gallons of toxic oil waste into Ecuador's rain
forest since the 1970s. The Amazonian plaintiffs in the case say the
amount is too low, while Chevron has denounced the ruling as
"illegitimate." Chevron spokesperson James Craig accused the judge in
the case of collaborating with the plaintiffs.

James Craig: "It's not a surprise, really, for us. Because we expected
[it], given the way that the case have been handled in the Ecuadorian
courts, especially in the last few years. It seemed obvious that there
was going to be a judgment against the company, and that was going to be
basically managed and directed by the plaintiff's lawyers, so we
expected something along these lines. But, obviously it's not something
we are going to sit down and accept. So we do definitely plan to
appeal."

Chevron has also filed challenges against the Ecuadorian government and
the plaintiffs in U.S. and international courts. Eucadorian President
Rafael Correa accused Chevron of conducting a smear campaign to
delegitimize the lawsuit.

Eucadorian President Rafael Correa: "The government has not had anything
to do with it. Our system of justice is absolutely independent. However,
the strategy of Chevron to delegitimize the process—it seemed that
they knew they were going to lose—was to erode, to accuse the
Ecuadorian government of getting involved in this trial, which we were
promoting."



.