Dole Claims Fraud In Nicaragua Banana Worker Suits

"It didn't seem legal to me," said John Doe 10, who testified he declined. "I had to think what these people were doing was harming those who really needed help."

John Doe 16 said he accepted and began to receive training manuals from the attorneys and to attend meetings "to guide us and prepare us."

He said participants had to pay to attend meetings, for their own transportation and training documents. He said they were shown pictures and movies of banana farms in order to make their testimony seem authentic.

Once, he said, they went on a bus trip to see banana warehouses. He said he was told "when the time comes for the gringos or the companies to ask you questions, you won't fail the test."

He said men in the program were subjected to sperm tests and in some cases were told to deny the existence of their children.

"If these people become aware, I don't know who could shoot me on the street," John Doe 16 said of the danger. "They could even set fire to my house with my family in it."

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