LANDOWNER links to human rights abuses, trade union-busting, unregulated fracking and land grabs are exposed in a new interactive map of Scotland.
Released yesterday by campaign group Global Justice Now, the online map pinpoints areas owned by “a handful of super-rich entities from around the world” said to be linked to controversial cases in several countries.
This includes Majid Jaffar, chief executive of Crescent Petroleum, which allegedly made much of its money through “close association” with Saddam Hussein, going on to become a major investor in post-war Iraq. Jaffar owns the 12,000-acre Pitmain estate near Kingussie and gave financial support to a campaign to stop the construction of a wind farm near the property.
It also includes the Vestey family, which owns the Assynt estate in Sutherland and was involved in a lengthy battle over land rights with the indigenous Gurindji people of Australia.
The controversy started with protests after it emerged that Aboriginal workers were paid a quarter of that given to white workers.
Te Venezuelan Government seized 3,000 hectares of Vestey land in 2005 to allow the free movement of indigenous people following reports that 200 Yaruro people had been fenced in and prevented from leaving without permission.
The billionaire De Spoelberch family, owners of the 22,000-acre Altnafeadh estate near Glencoe, is also included.
It is the controlling shareholders of AB Inbev, the world’s largest brewery chain, which dismissed hundreds of workers in Mexico for forming an independent trade union.
Scotland-registered Lovat Investments, which owns the 7,000-acre Lovat estate near Beauly, is listed over a financial stake in “African fracking firm” Kalahari Energy.
All estate owners mentioned were contacted by journalists, but none replied.
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