The Chevron Ecuador matter reached a new point today when the Ecuadorian court did what this space expected it to do: declare Chevron guilty of alleged environmental damage, even though Chevron has been out of the country in all ways since 1992.
This case has been a sham from the start, and a slap in America's face.
As explained in this space many times over the last three years or more, Ecuador itself has been a key party in this lawsuit. Moreover, lead lawyer Steven Donziger has admitted he expects to become a billionaire from the case. The only organization standing in his way is the Government of Ecuador itself, where its attorney general has said that it, and not Donziger, would collect 90 percent of any damage amount declared.
Meanwhile damage estimates that started at $16 billion then rose to $27 billion, then most recently $113 billion, were all based on a report that the media has sloppily reported as from a "Court appointed researcher" when it was really from a study prepared for the court by (drum roll please) Steven Donziger and his associates.
The misinformation around this case has served to throw a smoke screen around the fact that Ecuador has kicked out American oil companies and made room for foreign oil producers, all the while working to keep oil revenues (they call it nationalization) and float high-minded ideas about helping the poor of Ecuador, but doing nothing.
Meanwhile, President Rafael Correa sits as if he's really trying to alter the state of how oil's produced in Ecuador, when upon study it's obvious that the country's just interested in gaining more dollars for its wealthiest people. Indeed, the President's own brother has been fingered as being the negotiator for $700 million in oil production contracts with companies that would do business with him.
According to Reuters:
Correa's brother is at odds with him but remains cordial. However, he's also involved with the same Ecuadorian political movement that includes President Correa's sister, who has also been fingered as the possible recipient of millions from any damage award from a case that would go against Chevron.
All of this came out during the period of time that Ecuador Judge Juan Nunez was accused of taking bribes to rule against Chevron. He was eventually replaced by another judge.
The signs point to Correa's relations and Ecuador trying to work a big payoff from an American oil company 20 years removed while foreign companies and the State-run Petroecuador have polluted the land and waters.
A sham case and a slap in America's face.
Stay tuned.
This case has been a sham from the start, and a slap in America's face.
As explained in this space many times over the last three years or more, Ecuador itself has been a key party in this lawsuit. Moreover, lead lawyer Steven Donziger has admitted he expects to become a billionaire from the case. The only organization standing in his way is the Government of Ecuador itself, where its attorney general has said that it, and not Donziger, would collect 90 percent of any damage amount declared.
Meanwhile damage estimates that started at $16 billion then rose to $27 billion, then most recently $113 billion, were all based on a report that the media has sloppily reported as from a "Court appointed researcher" when it was really from a study prepared for the court by (drum roll please) Steven Donziger and his associates.
The misinformation around this case has served to throw a smoke screen around the fact that Ecuador has kicked out American oil companies and made room for foreign oil producers, all the while working to keep oil revenues (they call it nationalization) and float high-minded ideas about helping the poor of Ecuador, but doing nothing.
Meanwhile, President Rafael Correa sits as if he's really trying to alter the state of how oil's produced in Ecuador, when upon study it's obvious that the country's just interested in gaining more dollars for its wealthiest people. Indeed, the President's own brother has been fingered as being the negotiator for $700 million in oil production contracts with companies that would do business with him.
Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa is fighting accusations by a government watchdog that he knew about $700 million in state contracts that the panel says were improperly awarded to his brother.
Correa denied the allegation made by a four-member committee he created in 2009 to examine the business dealings of his older brother and political nemesis, Fabricio, a conservative who has threatened to run against him in 2013.
According to a report handed to state anti-corruption authorities last week by the Citizens Oversight Committee, the older sibling secured a slew of state oil exploration and public works contracts that broke anti-nepotism laws.
Fabricio has denied wrongdoing in the matter.
Correa's brother is at odds with him but remains cordial. However, he's also involved with the same Ecuadorian political movement that includes President Correa's sister, who has also been fingered as the possible recipient of millions from any damage award from a case that would go against Chevron.
All of this came out during the period of time that Ecuador Judge Juan Nunez was accused of taking bribes to rule against Chevron. He was eventually replaced by another judge.
The signs point to Correa's relations and Ecuador trying to work a big payoff from an American oil company 20 years removed while foreign companies and the State-run Petroecuador have polluted the land and waters.
A sham case and a slap in America's face.
Stay tuned.