Unocal will stand trial for human rights abuses
It’s been a long time coming but finally, a US judge ruled Unocal must stand trial for human rights abuses in Burma.
“The American oil giant Unocal must stand trial in California for alleged human rights abuses in Burma, a court has ruled.
A lawsuit, filed almost three years ago, accuses the company of allowing troops guarding one of its pipeline projects to rape, murder and enslave villagers.
Unocal is accused of being complicit in forced labour, rape and torture allegedly carried out by troops guarding the $1.2bn Yadana pipeline during its construction in the 1990s.
in documents released on Thursday, Los Angeles judge Victoria Chaney said: “Prior to its involvement in the pipeline project, Unocal had specific knowledge that the use of forced labour was likely and nevertheless chose to proceed.”