• Victims of 2006 dump threaten to “occupy’’ streets
About six years after noxious chemicals were discharged from a vessel Probo Koala on the shores of Ivory Coast victims of the toxic wastes have threatened to shut down the country’s capital Abidjan, owing to what they alleged as the inability of the compensation to get to them.
They have threatened mass protest and to “occupy’’ public institutions until they got justice.
• Victims of 2006 dump threaten to “occupy’’ streets
About six years after noxious chemicals were discharged from a vessel Probo Koala on the shores of Ivory Coast victims of the toxic wastes have threatened to shut down the country’s capital Abidjan, owing to what they alleged as the inability of the compensation to get to them.
They have threatened mass protest and to “occupy’’ public institutions until they got justice.
The 2006 dumping of toxic waste in the country resulted in the death of 17 people while others were deformed.
The leader of the victims, Charles Koffi, told newsmen that the march had been tagged: “Operation Red Kodjo’’ and “Operation Casserole’’.
Koffi said that the protest would start on June 6 and the victims would visit the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Integration and the Presidency.
Afterwards, Koffi said that they would “sit and wait’’ for justice.
The protest comes after the sack of a cabinet minister; Adama Bictogo, who was alleged to have misappropriated the funds that were meant for the victims.
The minister was dismissed after reparations from Trafigura Beheer BV for the victims of the 2006 dumping of toxic waste in Abidjan disappeared.
According to the BBC, the new government of President Alassane Ouattara has been urged to investigate why victims of the pollution have not yet received any compensation. Bictogo has in the meantime rejected the claims and denies any wrong doing.
Some of the side effects included burns on the skin, eyes, lung diseases, vomiting, unconsciousness and deaths.
Trafigura, an oil company, denied all allegations that it was aware of the dangers of the waste but accepted to pay compensations.
An initial US$198 million was paid to the government for clean up and another US$46 million was to serve as compensation to about the 30,000 reported victims of the damage.
The payment was meshed in controversy with lawyers of Trafigura, Leigh Day and Co, alleging that a “shadowy'' account was set by a group on behalf of the victims and the money did not trickle down as expected.
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