Showdown for a Tool in Human Rights Lawsuits

Multinational corporations (MNCs) are often subject to accusations by human rights and anti-globalization activists. To add to a long list of MNCs brought before US courts, energy giant Unocal currently faces a lawsuit filed by villagers from southeastern Myanmar, in a California court. Unocal is accused of aiding military authorities in Myanmar (Burma) in human rights abuses against local villagers when building a natural-gas pipeline. Ironically, this comes at a time when the US government is considering economic sanctions against Myanmar's military government for its poor human rights record, mainly against political opponent Aung San Suu Kyi. The charges against Unocal are based on an 18th century law used to try international pirates. Although rarely brought to a jury court, such cases can do substantial damage to the most vulnerable area of an MNC – its global public image. Unocal denies the charges, but many already consider it a "watershed case" with wide implications for the future of multinational trading. – YaleGlobal