Ecuador leader and Chevron to talk

  • 18/08/2008

  • International Herald Tribune (Bangkok)

QUITO: President Rafael Correa of Ecuador says he plans to meet with officials and lawyers from Chevron on behalf of 30,000 jungle residents who are suing the U.S. oil giant for up to $16 billion over environmental damage. Peasants and Indians are suing Chevron in an Ecuadorean court over charges its Texaco unit polluted the jungle and damaged their health by dumping 68 billion liters, or 18 billion gallons, of oil-laden water from 1972 to 1992. "We will meet with the representatives of Chevron-Texaco who are asking for a meeting, but with our colleagues of the Amazon Defense Front present," Correa said during his weekly radio address on Saturday, referring to the plaintiffs' lawyers. Chevron, which calls the case a "judicial farce" plagued by government inte