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Gag on Guardian reporting MP's Trafigura question lifted | Media | guardian.co.uk

The existence of a previously secret injunction against the media by oil traders Trafigura can now be revealed.

Within the past hour Trafigura's legal firm, Carter-Ruck, has withdrawn its opposition to the Guardian reporting proceedings in parliament that revealed its existence.

Labour MP Paul Farrelly put down a question yesterday to the justice secretary, Jack Straw. It asked about the injunction obtained by "Trafigura and Carter-Ruck solicitors on 11 September 2009 on the publication of the Minton Report on the alleged dumping of toxic waste in the Ivory Coast, commissioned by Trafigura".

The Guardian was due to appear at the High Court at 2pm to challenge Carter-Ruck's behaviour, but the firm has dropped its claim that to report parliament would be in contempt of court.

Here is the full text of Farrelly's question:

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Tue Oct 13th, 2009 at 09:33:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Sounds like what are called SLAPPs in the USA, (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation), but on steroids and with prior restraint. But with the current degree of corporate interest domination of law and politics in the Anglo world, it is probably too much to expect a law to be passed limiting such abuses.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Tue Oct 13th, 2009 at 11:00:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

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