Chevron is not the only US oil company facing blockbuster claims
for damages from South American indigenous groups, due to past
environmental damage apparently sanctioned by their governments.
The US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has
agreed to allow 25 Peruvian plaintiffs to sue Occidental Petroleum
in a US court. Occidental had argued that they should be forced to
sue in Peru, knowing that the Peruvian limitation period has almost
certainly expired. Also, enforcement of any judgment against
Occidental would be much easier if the decision comes from a US
court.
"These cross-appeals arise from the petroleum and oil
exploration operations conducted by defendant Occidental Peruana
("OxyPeru"), an indirect subsidiary of defendant
Occidental Petroleum Corporation (collectively
"Occidental"), along the Rio Corrientes in the
northern region of Peru. Plaintiffs, 25 members of the Achuar
indigenous group dependent for their existence upon the rainforest
lands and waterways
