Billions Demanded In Spanish Oil Spill Trial

The trial against those involved in the Prestige oil spill off northern Spain 10 years ago has begun, with claims for billions of euros in compensation.

The oil tanker sank and leaked 50,000 tonnes of fuel into the Atlantic.

Prosecutors have demanded just over 4 billion euros (£3.2bn) in damages for the Spanish state, based on environmental damage it caused.

The ship's Greek captain, Apostolos Mangouras, and three others are charged with harming the environment.

Mr Mangouras, 78, could face 12 years in prison. However, the whereabouts of his Filipino first mate, Irineo Maloto, remain unknown.

Environmental groups say that key people responsible for the disaster are not on trial, including Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy who was government spokesman at the time of the accident.

Spainish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was a spokesman at the time.

"There are many people who should be in the dock as well who are not there," said Maria Jose Caballero, the co-ordinator of Greenpeace Spain campaigns, adding: "We feel the government's management of the accident bordered on negligence."

Around 300 people demonstrated against the government's handling of the oil spill, chanting "No impunity" and "Oil spills, never again".  Some held up a picture of Rajoy alongside the caption "100 percent liar".

The conservative government at the time had ordered the Prestige out to sea and away from the coast - instead of following emergency plans and bringing it to port where the oil could be confined.

Rajoy, who was also deputy prime minister at the time, initially played down the accident after the ship took on water in a storm and drifted for six days before breaking up and sinking.

In the following weeks, around 300,00 volunteers from across Europe joined local people in scraping the oil from the rocks and beaches - sometimes with their bare hands.

The court will deal with procedural matters before calling on the defendants to give testimony in November.  The trial is expected to last until May.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Billions Demanded In Spanish Oil Spill Trial

Dengan url

http://majutakgentarian.blogspot.com/2012/10/billions-demanded-in-spanish-oil-spill.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Billions Demanded In Spanish Oil Spill Trial

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Billions Demanded In Spanish Oil Spill Trial

sebagai sumbernya