June 29: Brussels: The highest Belgian court of appeal has dismissed a lawsuit against TotalFinaElf brought by Burmese nationals, Belgian RTBF radio has reported.

“The Court of Cassation… has decided, in a way, to follow the lawyers of TotalFinaElf and to pronounce a nonsuit”, the radio said.

It recalled that, in 2002, four Burmese nationals, one of whom had refugee status in Belgium, filed a lawsuit against the oil company for “complicity with the Burmese junta in crimes against humanity in Burma”.

One month ago the arbitration court ruled that the Burmese plaintiffs were able to proceed with their case under Belgium’s universal jurisdiction law, the radio added.

“Today the Court of Cassation overturned this decision,” it said.