Peru indigenous groups settle U.S. court claims with Occidental

Peru indigenous groups settle U.S. court claims with Occidental
LIMA Thu Mar 5, 2015 2:34pm EST


(Reuters) - Indigenous villagers in Peru have reached a negotiated settlement with Occidental Petroleum Corp, which they had sued for allegedly polluting their lands over three decades, the two sides said on Thursday.

The oil producer agreed to fund development programs for the five Achuar communities in Peru's Amazon, which first filed a lawsuit in 2007, said Marco Simons, who represented them in court for the not-for-profit group EarthRights International.

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The communities had alleged Occidental spilled oil and dumped toxic waste while operating Peru's biggest oil block, triggering widespread health problems.

Garcia said she believes her 11-year-old son died because he drank water from a river polluted by Occidental.

The plaintiffs filed their lawsuit in a federal court in Los Angeles, California, where Occidental used to be based, arguing Peruvian courts would shield Occidental.

Occidental lost its bid to have the lawsuit dismissed from U.S. courts in 2010.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/05/us-peru-occidental-idUSKBN0M12BN20150305?rpc=401