Displaying items by tag: meeting

This year will mark the 10th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide in Sinjar, Iraq. Beginning on the night of 2 - 3 August 2014, ISIS displaced the entire Yazidi population from its homeland, amid a campaign of abductions and killings that claimed 12,000 victims.¹ A striking detail of this and other crimes of the self-proclaimed caliphate is the proximity of a Western corporate actor: cement producer Lafarge, whose subsidiary Lafarge Cement Syria operated the Jalabiyeh cement plant in neighbouring northern Syria. On-going investigations have since helped uncover what may amount to complicity on the part of Lafarge and Lafarge Cement Syria in the form of payments dating back to August 2013.²

In a week that began with the abandoned Jalabiyeh cement plant ablaze following a drone strike,³ Lafarge learned that it will face trial in France over its alleged complicity in crimes against humanity committed by ISIS.⁴ On 16 January 2024, the French Court of Cassation upheld Lafarge and Lafarge Cement Syrias' indictments on the charge. Also reportedly indicted are (all former) Lafarge CEOs Bruno Lafont and Eric Olsen, vice president Christian Herrault and security director Jean-Claude Veillard and Lafarge Cement Syria CEOs Bruno Pescheux and Frédéric Jolibois, along with an intermediary and a Jordan-based risk management consultant.^{5, 6} The collaboration in question includes monthly payments to ISIS and other armed groups worth US$15.5m, a lower French court found in May 2022. It may be more than another 20 months before the thorny mass of issues to be considered by the court resolves itself in convictions, or cleared names.

Another front in Lafarge and Lafarge Cement Syria's legal battle over what happened in Syria is the US civil court system. Activist and survivor Nadia Murad and 426 other Yazidis have filed an Anti-Terrorism Act claim for damages, based on the companies' previous guilty plea to the US Department of Justice to conspiracy to the tune of US$5.92m in October 2022. Murad and fellow claimants allege ‘far higher’ total payments, pointing to correspondence between Lafarge Cement Syria and its intermediary that references ‘[sic] ten millions that we pay directly to them, i.e. to ISIS.’ The DoJ estimates the total value of the conspiracy for all parties at US$80.5m.

On 6 August 2014 (the fourth day of the Yazidi genocide), Lafarge and Lafarge Cement Syria signalled their agreement to enter into a new long-term agreement to share their revenues with ISIS. On 15 August 2014, the UN Security Council issued Resolution 2170 condemning 'any engagement in direct or indirect trade' with the organisation.⁷ Lafarge and Lafarge Cement Syria allegedly concluded the revenue-sharing agreement, under new terms more beneficial to ISIS, on that same day.

Lafarge Cement Syria finally evacuated the Jalabiyeh cement plant in September 2014, whereupon ISIS added it to its own five-plant international cement network, with sales worth US$583m/yr. The US-led Coalition bombed the site in October 2019 and it was subsequently occupied by Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) forces. The strike on 14 January 2024 was part of a drone campaign by Turkish forces against Kurdish positions that the invaders say destroyed 23 targets.

It is conceivable that Turkish armed forces also had personal reasons for destroying this monument to Lafarge’s former presence in the region: on Lafarge’s stipulation, ISIS implemented a duty on Turkish cement entering its area of control, ostensibly charged at US$150/truck. As anyone familiar with the Turkish cement sector knows, one of the major investors in the industry happens to be the country’s military pension fund.

For the 400,000 Yazidis who have survived, the tragedy that began in August 2014 will not end soon. More than half remain in refugee camps. Among the missing are 2000 girls and women who the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism suspect ISIS may have 'further entrenched in human trafficking,' constituing a continuation of the genocide that has outlasted both the self-proclaimed caliphate and the French multinational that may have helped to bankroll it.⁸ Courts in different countries are helping bring to light a reign of terror that spanned international borders. In the US, some of its victims may find redress, while in France, justice may be closing in on anyone who might prove to have made common cause with the perpetrators.

References

1. RASHID, 'DESTROYING THE SOUL OF THE YAZIDIS,' Augut 2019, https://www.rashid-international.org/downloads/RASHID_Yazidi_Heritage_Destruction_Report_2019.pdf

2. Jenner & Block, 'IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK,' 14 December 2013, www.jenner.com/a/web/fy85Wd97fANx7fwBecn31r/23-9186-as-filed-complaint2.pdf

3. ANHA, 'Turkish occupation army targets former Lafarge site,' 14 January 2024, https://hawarnews.com/en/turkish-occupation-army-targets-former-lafarge-site?__cf_chl_tk=mSB3Ph6iU.3FEJ.Z3ywRvcu2n.tOahhpLnd.Fmqk0SU-1705415232-0-gaNycGzNDHs

4. Reuters, 'Lafarge can be charged with 'complicity in crimes against humanity' over Syria plant, French court says,' 16 January 2024, https://ca.news.yahoo.com/lafarge-charged-complicity-crimes-against-132904436.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANqF5SKpSZ7KB5rT5rjo_vFZ5LGdZ9bVkC5SeNw3iZGneLy5Tir2dsb1O3GQjITBRSF_xEs2GDBcSU94nKOocm-npnTznmbfhKB_FgOsBCg-9lO7ilPP2phHAcGahghG9yjmFoWVd24uU7xEwZ2RZqmmMaE2bSIIcTGRuh4LAlXD

5. Madeline Young, Lafarge's Case Cemented, 2021, https://scholarlycommons.law.emory.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=eilr-recent-developments

6. Le Télégramme, 'Complicité de crimes contre l’humanité : les poursuites contre Lafarge validées par la Cour de cassation?' 16 January 2023, www.letelegramme.fr/france/complicite-de-crimes-contre-lhumanite-les-poursuites-contre-lafarge-validees-par-la-cour-de-cassation-6505590.php

7. UN Security Council, 'Security Council Adopts Resolution 2170 (2014) Condemning Gross, Widespread Abuse of Human Rights by Extremist Groups in Iraq, Syria,' 15 August 2014, https://press.un.org/en/2014/sc11520.doc.htm#:~:text=Through%20the%20unanimous%20adoption%20of,as%20ISIS)%20and%20Al%2DNusra

8. Al-Dayel et al, ‘ISIS and Their Use of Slavery,’ 27 January 2020, https://www.icct.nl/publication/isis-and-their-use-slavery

Uzbekistan/Qatar: Qatar National Cement has been named among businesses that have attended meetings with the Uzbekistan Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade. UzDaily News has reported that the minister is visiting Qatar for talks with his Qatari counterpart, as well as ‘large companies’ from the heavy industry, energy and food sectors. The Uzbekistan government is reportedly evaluating the prospects for joint implementation of large investment projects in priority sectors of the economy.

Mexico: Cemex’s CEO Fernando González joined a panel of other business representatives at the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly on 18 September 2023. The United Nations Global Compact, the UN’s 9500 member-strong stakeholder platform for sustainable business, hosted the panel. González and fellow panellists discussed issues including sustainable finance, global fairness and the effects of climate change.

González said “Our company is committed to building a better future: one that is more sustainable, circular and creates a supportive environment for people to thrive. The UN Sustainable Development Goals provide a great blueprint to effect this change, but progress is not happening fast enough. The public and private sectors must join to map an equitable transition to the sustainable world of tomorrow.”

Cemex is an Early Mover in the UN’s Forward Faster climate change accountability initiative and co-leads the UN Global Compact’s Sustainable Supplier Impact Programme in support of small and medium-sized enterprises’ sustainability transition.

India: The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board conducted the public hearing for Meghalaya Cements’ planned expansion of its Meghalaya cement plant on 24 August 2023. The producer had already secured a no objection certificate (NOC) for the expansion, which will raise the plant’s capacity by 73% to 1.49Mt/yr. The Meghalaya Monitor newspaper has reported that around 150 protestors from the local community disrupted the hearing held at Thangskai in Jaintia Hills District. The crowd reportedly demonstrated against the lack of prior engagement with the neighbourhood. It also took objection with the company’s failure to hire half of plant staff locally, as it had previously committed to do.

Meghalaya Cements has apologised and suspended two employees for their conduct during the hearing. India Today NE News has reported that the two employees used ‘unparliamentary’ language.

Meghalaya Cements said “The company once again apologises to the local people due to the behaviour of our employees. We assure you that the company is committed to promoting peace, harmony and a conducive environment for the employees and the villagers associated with our company, and also assure you that no such untoward incident will happen in the future.”

Kenya: The government says that it has found a 'strategic investor' to buy a 30% stake in East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC). Business Daily News has reported that the buyer will acquire shares from the National Treasury, the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and Lafarge South Africa. The government holds 25% of EAPCC's shares through the Treasury, while the NSSF holds 27% and Lafarge South Africa 42%.

Lafarge South Africa denied that it plans to sell any of its shares in EAPCC. Chief executive officer Geoffrey Ndugwa said "We are not aware that we will be ceding shares.”

The government said that shareholders currently face the decision to sell EAPCC's land, seek a bailout from the Treasury or liquidate the company. It expects shareholders to reach a decision and establish a comprehensive plan for the company by 17 August 2023.

US: The Portland Cement Association (PCA) hosted a one-day session in mid-June 2023 aimed at establishing guidelines for the definition of 'low carbon' cement and concrete. The association called the session a 'Critical first step' towards ensuring clarity for stakeholders.

The PCA said "Low carbon is increasingly defined in the eye of the beholder, with little or no regard to either upstream and downstream impacts or short-term and long-term strength, durability and resilience concerns."

Bolivia: Itacamba Cemento declared a general assembly of bondholders on 22 May 2023 void after bondholders failed to attend in sufficient numbers for the meeting to proceed. The company said that there was insufficient quorum in accordance with the provisions of its bond issuance programme, and that the way forward would be to call a new assembly.

This story was amended on 26 May 2023, after a previous version erroneously stated that the bond issuance had been declared void - whereas it was the inquorate meetings that were declared void. Global Cement apologises for this error.

US: 100 Workers at Continental Cement's Hannibal cement plant in Missouri are on strike against alleged unfair labour practices. IndustriALL Global Union has accused the producer of restricting employees' say in schedules, overtime and cross training requirements at the plant, as well as of withholding information necessary for bargaining. The union additionally alleged that the company was discriminatory in its termination of contracts. The workers have continued to work amid on-going contract renegotiations following the expiry of a collective agreement between them and the producer in May 2022.

IndustriALL Global Union said "Continental Cement’s actions have left workers no other options but to make their voices heard by striking against unfair labour practices. We are determined to fight for the fair contract. It's time for Continental Cement to follow the law and negotiate in good faith for a fair contract.”

India: The state government of Himachal Pradesh says that it will take 'legal action' against Adani Group should it fail to reopen its Darlaghat and Gagal cement plants. The Times of India newspaper has reported that measures may include cancellation of the cement producer's relevant land leases. Out-of-work truck drivers agreed to cancel a state-wide road blockade in protest against the closures after the government promised a 'resolution' on 4 February 2022. It now plans to hold talks with Adani Group, in which it will relay truck drivers' offer of an 11% reduction in per-kilometre freight rates to US$0.12/t from US$0.14/t.

Himachal Pradesh industries minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said that the state government is empowered to take drastic measures in defence of Himachali people's interests.

Geological Survey of India (GSI) officials are reportedly investigating alleged illegal mining at the sites of the Darlaghat and Gagal cement plants.

India: Representatives of Adani Group and cement truck drivers' unions attended talks held by the Himachal Pradesh state government, after the group closed two cement plants in the state, claiming that their costs were prohibitively high. The government appointed Himachal Consultancy Organisation to guide truck unions in reaching an agreement on new freight rates. Adani Group chair Gautam Adani said that transport costs per tonne of cement were US$1.30/km in upland areas and US$0.66/km in lowland areas. The state government previously raised value added tax (VAT) rates on diesel by 68% to US$0.09/l, resulting in total diesel costs of US$1.05/l.