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Exclusive: The return of blood diamonds
Six years ago, the world came together to stop a trade in gems that was fuelling civil war in Africa. Now the architect of the deal has quit, warning that jewels 'have blood all over them' again
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Independent Minds
The leading architect of the international system to stop the trade in blood diamonds has warned that the safety net is close to collapse with governments and the industry failing to act against gross violations.
Ian Smillie, the "grandfather" of the landmark Kimberley Process, that was agreed in response to appalling civil wars in Africa fuelled by illegal gems, said he had "stomped out" on his scheme as it was no longer working.
"It isn't regulating the rough diamond trade," the Canadian expert said yesterday. "It is in danger of becoming irrelevant and it's letting all manner of crooks off the hook."
The Kimberley safeguards came into effect in 2003 and helped restore consumer confidence in precious stones. Today they regulate 99.98 per cent of the rough diamond trade, but if the process loses credibility, experts say criminals will re-enter the trade with conflict diamonds quickly reappearing in shops in London, Paris and New York.
Mr Smillie was one of the authors of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), the UN-backed agreement credited with breaking the link between the diamond trade and vicious conflicts, mainly in southern and western Africa. His comments came as the 49 members of the Kimberley Process – made up of governments, industry and civil society – met in Namibia with a growing list of concerns.
Top of those is Zimbabwe, where hundreds of diamond miners were massacred by the army as the government effectively militarised a key mining area late last year. Some in the industry have questioned whether Zimbabwe's gems match the definition of conflict diamonds as they are helping to fund a government, not a rebel army, but Mr Smillie rejected this: "They are blood diamonds, they have blood all over them."
Zimbabwe is not alone and a host of other cracks have emerged in the system of safeguards meant to "ensure that diamond purchases were not funding violence". Monitors have pointed to the illegal trade flourishing in Ivory Coast, Guinea, Venezuela and Lebanon.
One-hundred percent of Venezuela's diamonds are being smuggled, according to the UK-based Global Witness; Guinea has reported an unfeasible 500 per cent increase in diamond production year on year; and Lebanon is exporting more rough diamonds than it imports despite having no local deposits. None of those countries have been suspended from the process and while inspection teams have been dispatched and reports commissioned, no action has been taken.
"The Kimberley Process is always the last to wake up and smell the coffee," Mr Smillie complained. It was claimed that he had "retired" from his role as one of the group's chief monitors earlier this year but the Canadian dismissed this report, saying he had "stomped out". "If it was working I would be there in Windhoek arguing with them or celebrating with them... but governments want to pretend that it is working." He said the mantra of KPCS has become "let's not do anything now" and accused them of "fiddling while Rome burns".
The KPCS is under strong pressure to act against Zimbabwe. "Hundreds of miners have been killed by their own government," said Annie Dunnebacke, lead campaigner from Global Witness. "How can that country still be part of the Kimberley Process? What's the point of having a stick if the stick is never used? Zimbabwe should be suspended."
The Namibia meeting which ends today has agreed to send an inspection team to the troubled southern African nation next week but it's unlikely they will be given serious access to the Marange area where the killings occurred. Inspectors have privately admitted that people they want to interview have been arrested or intimidated already.
Global Witness and Mr Smillie's Partnership Canada-Africa NGO were among the pressure groups who put blood diamonds on the agenda of the UN Security Council in 2000. At that stage rough gems were helping to pay for vicious civil wars in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Angola that cost hundreds of thousands of lives.
A UN resolution in December 2000 launched the Kimberley Process, and it was signed three years later. On its own website the organisation trumpets its success: "Diamond experts estimate that conflict diamonds now represent a fraction of one per cent of the international trade in diamonds, compared to estimates of up to 15 per cent in the 1990s. That has been the Kimberley Process's most remarkable contribution to a peaceful world."
The key to that success was ensuring that it reached all countries involved in the trade. Its future depends on ensuring there are no grey areas for blood diamonds to exploit. "Diamonds travel quickly," explained Mr Smillie.
The consequences of a collapse of the Kimberley Process would be twofold, he warned. "The diamond trade would go back to its criminal past and rebel armies would have no problem finding buyers for their blood diamonds. The potential for diamonds fuelling conflict would be back," he said.
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Comments
most diamond money seems to go to funding Botswana govt, Russian govt and RSA pensions.
moreover the accusation made by the Mr Smillie is that govts are failing not the major industry players.
but hey rock on crazy patronising urban European liberals - noone cares what you think anyway.
Strange, isn't it, how liberal whites don't have the slightest interest in hundreds of Zimbabwean miners being massacred by their own government. Indeed, the same liberal whites have evinced little or no interest in the murder of hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans, whether by physical action or starvation, and no interest as the country went to rack and ruin.
Where are the demonstrations? Where the cause celebre? Contrast this with the fuss when Zimbabwe was a well-ordered, beautiful, unravaged country called Rhodesia, in which blacks were infinitely better off than at present. Now THAT was the time when liberal whites were truly exercised and outraged - but, as can now clearly be seen, it was not because they actually cared one jot about the welfare of blacks.
Six years ago, the world came together to stop a trade in gems that was fuelling civil war in Africa. Now the architect of the deal has quit, warning that jewels 'have blood all over them' again
By Daniel Howden, Africa Correspondent
"The diamond trade would go back to its criminal past and rebel armies would have no problem finding buyers for their blood diamonds. The potential for diamonds fuelling conflict would be back," he said.
Diamonds are forever. Let us go a little deeper into the trade zone. The Sandalwood is the most expensive wood that the African countries prohibit to go outside without proper documents. The leopards skin, the elephant tusks, the horn of Rhino, The teeth of lion, Skin of crocodiles, the hair bangles from the elephant's hair, snakeskin?s. The logs generally. However, these get the clear certificate anyway. I find the ban on many items still on but they are off for the politicians to reap all. Gold, Tanzanite, many gems, silver, overseas books printed here and sold too, in the far western countries. Where does one stop.
I thank you
Firozali A Mulla
The Political Economy of Diamonds
by Prof. R. T. Naylor
The only way this is going to change if there is enough publicity about the way that the current system is abused to make the Diamond industry feel threatened. That is the only thing that will give real motivation to actually stop the trade in blood diamonds, rather than just going through the motions
The same goes for fur and other animal products.
The same goes for cosmetics which are tested on animals.
You might say that suffering is demand-driven.
The Arab satellite TV station said it had received an audio statement from al-Qaida of the Islamic Maghreb in which the group said 39-year-old Christopher Ervin Leggett was killed Tuesday for allegedly trying to convert Muslims to Christianity.
I thank you
Firozali A Mulla
Diamonds are very crucial to Africa's development and as well as Mr. Smilie, he pioneered a system that provided more than confidence for the industry, this man saved millions of lives in Africa through the KP Process. However, it is very important for Ian to know that, what ever action he takes, Africa (not the greedy self-serving officials but, i mean youth like us who are aware of global issues and want to change the thought process of doing business in Africa) is looking at him and wondering if this same man who helped us prosper is now giving up on us? The issues are more complicated than what you read from an article while drinking tea in your London or New York office, claiming to save the world that you are millions of miles away from.
I understand that terrible things happened in the past and guess what, most of my friends from Sierra Leone, be it child soldiers or government workers acknowledge that fact and are ready to move on and turn things around. This same resource that devastated them a few years ago is now providing hope for a new and empowered nation. On the same tone, i have to say that, i have never experienced conflict, all i know and see when i hear about diamonds, is SCHOOLS, ROADS, HOSPITALS, (the list is endless) being built. You look at the beauty of a diamond, i look through it and see kids graduating and becoming DOCTORS, this is the true carat, clarity, color and cut value to me!
In conclusion, lets research and find ways we can engage with these issues and not turn our backs and disengage! Working from the inside out turns to be very effective in most situations and i hope and trust that, over and above all, good deeds will overcome greed and Africa will see what nations like Botswana have done with their Diamonds.
EMPOWERED AFRICAN!
The Indy predictably attempts yet again to smear the regimes the West doesn't like, such as Zimbabwe and Venezuela, while Israel continues to cash in on the blood of Africans.
The Jewellry industry has always been polluting rivers, degrading mountains and overwasting human health on soldering, casting, cutting and polishing...
Consumers should be aware that while they are exhibiting their precious metals and stones, very proudly, lives are being destroyed, nature is being devastated...along with all other causes which bring natural impacts...
JEWELRY IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH PRESERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY
I used to be a jewellry Designer, was awarded in national jewellry competitions...created many unusual collections, was recognized amongst the one hundred best jewelry designers in the world in a book published in Italy...jewelry brought me prestige but it also brought me concern and regret after being made aware of all problems I mentioned here...
Producing jewelry also brought health problems...lung and liver contamination...which made me turn away from the area...and thank GOD it was in time...
We should teach jewelry consumers "the other side of the coin"...and I personaly congratulate THE INDEPENDENT for bringing up this topic to surface, especcially becouse the world greatest jewelry consumer market is in Europe...
Edu Olavo
Designer
Environment Specialist
ecodesigning@gmail.com
are one of the most precious, most meaningful, most valuable gifts you can give or receive. They are the stuff of kings and queens, myths and legends, power and mystique. I cannot even imagine to myself what would happen if they do illegalize diamond trade….