Bruising for Chiquita's Top Bananas

(Cincinnati, Ohio) Fruit behemoth Chiquita Brands paid protection money to illegal right-wing paramilitary groups in Colombia and, as a consequence, the company has agreed to pay a fine of $25 million.

Although it hasn't made a difference thus far, Chiquita claims that left-wing rebel groups were also paid.

Payment of a fine, however, doesn't completely satisfy the Columbians who also want Chiquita's top bananas.

Many aspects of the case remain unresolved in Colombia, where the chief prosecutor's office was preparing to ask the administration of President Bush for details.

The U.S. Justice Department said Chiquita's payments to the paramilitaries "were reviewed and approved by senior executives of the corporation, to include high-ranking officers, directors and employees," but didn't name names.

Jaime Bernal Cuellar, a former Colombian attorney general, joined opposition lawmakers in calling for the extradition to Colombia of all those involved.

"A criminal investigation of the people who financed these illegal groups should begin immediately," he said.

So, the Colombians are not going to let the issue rest. They apparently want heads to roll.