The Justice Department has announced it won’t seek criminal charges against any current or former executives of the fruit giant Chiquita International. Earlier this year Chiquita admitted to making $1.7 million in illegal payments to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia — considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. Questions are being raised whether the Justice Department decision is an attempt to avoid scrutiny of whether the Bush administration gave Chiquita its tacit approval. Last month Chiquita revealed it told Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff of the payments while Chertoff was at the Justice Department in April 2003. Chertoff promised a response, but never replied. Chiquita kept making payments for nearly another year. The United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia has been on the State Department’s list of terrorist organizations for six years. It’s blamed for thousands of murders in Colombia.