Will American jury hold oil giant Chevron legally liable for human rights abuses in Africa?
SAN FRANCISCO – A San Francisco jury begins deliberations in a precedent-setting civil case – Bowoto v Chevron – that seeks to hold US oil giant Chevron liable in the United States for human rights abuses in Nigeria after closing arguments are heard on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 in courtroom 10 of the Federal Building. The jury will have to decide if what happened constitutes aiding and abetting on the part of Chevron in the death of two protestors, and the injury and subsequent torture of others who peacefully protested the destruction of their environment and livelihood caused by Chevron’s oil production activities in May of 1998. Chevron’s operations have devastated local communities’ fishing economy and access to clean water. In response to the peaceful protest, Chevron summoned the notoriously violent Nigerian police and military and transported them in Chevron helicopters to the oil platform. Under the supervision of Chevron personnel, the Nigerian military and police killed two
