In our previous article "ISIS: A tool in the hands of Imperialism" we were writing among other things: "...the savage murderers of ISIS became part of an imperialist equation in Syria which serves the interests of the monopolies of the states involved in the war". The revelation of the numerous direct and indirect relations between large corporations and the jihadists was a matter of time.
Such an interesting revelation came recently from London's "Financial Times" which expose the indirect financing of the Islamic State from LafargeHolcim, the French-Swiss multinational manufacturer of building materials.
"LafargeHolcim, the Swiss-French cement company, on Thursday admitted “unacceptable” measures had been taken to keep its Syrian plant open, following allegations staff had dealt with armed groups during the country’s violent civil war.
The company said an internal investigation found evidence that Lafarge’s Syrian unit had paid third parties to work out arrangements with armed groups, including “sanctioned parties”, in order to maintain operations at the cement factory in 2013 and 2014. Last November a lawsuit was filed against Lafarge in France by human rights groups, which accused the company of having “business relations” with militant group Isis in Syria, and of financing terrorism in the country. The suit was lodged by Sherpa and the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, plus 11 people who were former employees of Lafarge in Syria.
Violent conflict erupted around Lafarge’s Jalabiyeh plant in northern Syria in 2013, with armed factions — including rebel groups tied to radical Islamist organisations — fighting government forces to control parts of the country’s border regions with Turkey. The fighting raised questions about the security of the Lafarge factory and the safety of employees, and the plant was evacuated in September 2014. LafargeHolcim said that while its investigation had uncovered payments to third parties in Syria, it could not determine “with certainty” who ultimately received the funds. “It appears from the investigation that the local company provided funds to third parties to work out arrangements with a number of these armed groups, including sanctioned parties, in order to maintain operations and ensure safe passage of employees and supplies to and from the plant . . ."
LafargeHolcim isn't involved only in dealings with the savage ISIS murderers in Syria. According to the FT article, the company's CEO has "highlighted the potential for expansion in the US due to the infrastructure investment programme planned by President Donald Trump, which could include his proposed wall along the border with Mexico". Business as usual for the capitalists...
The involvement of a large corporation like LafargeHolcim with the Islamic State in Syria proves once more the dirty role of the monopolies in the imperialist wars and the mounting hypocrisy of bourgeois governments.
