Honduran farmers and land-defenders are suing the World Bank for aiding and abetting violence (including murder) and human rights abuses against farmers and their communities resisting palm oil projects in the Aguan Valley region.
The World Bank’s private lending arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), funded tens of millions of dollars to agribusiness giant Dinant. Hondurans claim Dinant used private security forces for “murders, torture, assault, battery, trespass, unjust enrichment and other acts of aggression” against small-scale farmers defending their land and their homes.
The World Bank’s own internal watchdog raised questions about the financing of a $30m loan to Dinant while the corporation faced allegations of backing violence against local farmers. But the Bank approved it anyway.
One of the most horrifying parts of this tragedy is that this was not a one time loan. This was a sustained financial relationship. The World Bank is simply turning a blind eye and denouncing any personal responsibility.
This is one of the most severe instances of corporate-related human rights abuse and financier negligence in the past decade.
Let the World Bank know that the global community condemns their deadly business.
More information
Huffington Post. 8 March 2017.
Financial Times. 9 March 2017.
The Guardian. 8 March 2017.
