| Submit your comments on this article |
| Israel-Palestine |
| Mister Caterpillar to be Called up Before War Crimes Commision |
| 2004-06-14 |
Monday, 14 June, 2004, 17:03 GMT 18:03 UK US bulldozer firm in Mid-East row A leading UN official has warned US manufacturer Caterpillar that it may be complicit in human rights violations in the West Bank and Gaza. The company supplies armoured bulldozers to the Israeli army that are used to demolish Palestinian homes. Human rights official Jean Ziegler expressed "deep concern" over the sales, in a letter to Caterpillar. The company says it shares world concern over the Middle East but it cannot police the use of its equipment. Human rights groups estimate that around 3,000 Palestinian homes have been demolished since 2000. Israel says the demolitions are necessary on security grounds. ’Rights Violations’ Mr Ziegler is the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights’ Special Rapporteur on the right to food. In his letter, he described destruction by the bulldozers of "agricultural farms, greenhouses and ancient olive groves". Caterpillar’s actions in supplying the D-9 and D-10 bulldozers mean they may be complicit in violating the right to food, Mr Ziegler said. Over 50% of Palestinians are already largely dependent on food aid. Human lives had also been lost during the demolitions, Ziegler wrote, including that of American peace activist Rachel Corrie. The company’s role in supplying Israel has also been recently criticised by human rights group Amnesty International. In an April report on Palestinian home demolitions, they called on Caterpillar to "guarantee that its bulldozers are not used to commit human rights violations". ’Compassion’ In a statement on its website, Caterpillar says it "shares the world’s concern over unrest in the Middle East and certainly have compassion for all those affected by political strife". Nevertheless, it has "neither the legal right nor the means to police individual use of its equipment," the statement says. Campaigners have claimed that this is a direct contravention of the company’s own corporate responsibility policy. The policy states: "Caterpillar is committed to enabling positive and responsible growth around the world, and we believe in the value of social and environmental responsibility." The company reported profits of over $1 billion last year. I trust this means that Ziegler and Amnesty International will now be going after communist China to ensure that their millions of rocket propelled grenades sold annually "are not used to commit human rights violations" as well. |
| Posted by:Zenster |
| #15 So where is this Mr. Ziegler's office? Maybe Mr. Caterpillar should go to Mr. Ziegler's office and negotiate, face to face, man and machine working out their differences together. Mr. D9 is all grown up. Check out his D11 bio here. He can turn a normally quiet breakfast into a real Pancake Feed! |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-06-14 11:31:06 PM |
| #14 I'm thinking Caterpillar oughtta take this as free publicity....perhaps a 2005 D-9 Calendar with "squashed ISM 'tools' of the month" starting with the extra-special St. Pancake? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-06-14 7:34:58 PM |
| #13 I'd put the D-9 on the stand in a heart beat if I were the defense lawyer. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-06-14 7:29:52 PM |
| #12 I don't know; they may be on to something here - and we could get in a few good lawsuits ourselves. How about hauling the entire Saudi Royal Family into the war crimes court for the actions of their citizens on September 11, 2001? How about going after the makers of the AK-47s used on our men? How about grabbing the makers of those damned bombs the suicide-jihadis love so much? And what about suing anyone who publishes the Qu'ran, which inspires the fanatics? |
| Posted by: The Doctor 2004-06-14 7:22:02 PM |
| #11 Fine. Next time we'll just use the tanks. |
| Posted by: IDF 2004-06-14 7:12:28 PM |
| #10 Rantburgers! Remember to celebrate D9 day! March 16th I think... |
| Posted by: Bodyguard 2004-06-14 6:31:53 PM |
| #9 You mean this isn't scrappleface? |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-06-14 5:21:57 PM |
| #8 Well, we should also investigate the explosives companies for human rights abuses, along with the nail companies, frabric companies for vests, etc... |
| Posted by: mmurray821 2004-06-14 5:18:39 PM |
| #7 "Oh, sorry... Ari? Hey, listen, never mind the olive groves, just knock down the houses." |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-06-14 5:10:23 PM |
| #6 Catapillar lawyers are busy writing new instructions into the next bulldozer manual. 1. Always walk around bulldozer before operating to make sure path is clear. 2. Always buckle seat belt before operating. 3. Do not commit human rights violations with bulldozer. 4. Before dozing, always make sure olive groves are no ancient. . . . |
| Posted by: Sam 2004-06-14 5:03:04 PM |
| #5 D9? I suppose that now the town of Granby CO is going to sue Cat - if they assume the same basis. Remember, a D9 was what they guy used to level parts of the town. Its akin to blaming the gun instead of the gunman. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-06-14 4:53:47 PM |
| #4 Appropriate response: *giggle* |
| Posted by: .com 2004-06-14 4:43:19 PM |
| #3 How does the "Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food" (no ordinary rapporteur is he; no, he's special!) get jurisdiction over bulldozers, anyway? "Well, uh, you see, he's the special rapporteur on the right to food and Rachel Corrie is 'St. Pancake.' Pancakes are food, right? There you go. Makes perfect sense, it does." |
| Posted by: Mike 2004-06-14 4:34:47 PM |
| #2 "Mr Ziegler is the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights’ Special Rapporteur on the right to food." And is seems to be given a WIDE latitude conducting investigations. Seems the Paleos have all the food they need and the Dozers fall into the sphere of influence??? Just another un dog-pile on Israel and I doubt that Mr. Catepiller would have to even respond to a summmons from this gaggle of idiots. Why not investigate the arms being smuggled INTO the UN REFUGEE camps? Where are they coming from? Did Mr Ziegler send a note to those countries and call them 'complicit' in the deaths of civilians TARGETED civilians? At least teh Israelis give the Paleos a chance to leave before they level their house. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2004-06-14 4:29:55 PM |
| #1 A leading UN official has warned US manufacturer Caterpillar that it may be complicit in human rights violations in the West Bank and Gaza. Ohh, puuuuuhleeeeeeease. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-06-14 4:27:51 PM |