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Blood diamond scheme 'is failing' | Blood diamond scheme 'is failing' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The Kimberley Process certification scheme, which aims to stop the use of diamonds to fund conflict, is failing, according to a campaign group. | The Kimberley Process certification scheme, which aims to stop the use of diamonds to fund conflict, is failing, according to a campaign group. |
Global Witness pointed to the smuggling of diamonds from Ivory Coast and an alleged massacre of diamond diggers by the military in Zimbabwe last year. | Global Witness pointed to the smuggling of diamonds from Ivory Coast and an alleged massacre of diamond diggers by the military in Zimbabwe last year. |
The rights group, which lobbied to set up the scheme in 2003, says it is not being adequately enforced. | The rights group, which lobbied to set up the scheme in 2003, says it is not being adequately enforced. |
Officials are meeting in Namibia to review the Kimberley Process. | Officials are meeting in Namibia to review the Kimberley Process. |
Namibia is hosting the three-day conference in Windhoek because it currently heads the scheme. | |
Participants in the Kimberley Process are forced to certify the origin of any diamond being traded. | Participants in the Kimberley Process are forced to certify the origin of any diamond being traded. |
This seeks to assure consumers that by purchasing diamonds they are not financing war and human rights abuses. | This seeks to assure consumers that by purchasing diamonds they are not financing war and human rights abuses. |
'Raised eyebrows' | |
But late last year reports emerged in Zimbabwe of a military-led slaughter of up to 150 miners in the eastern Marange diamond fields. | But late last year reports emerged in Zimbabwe of a military-led slaughter of up to 150 miners in the eastern Marange diamond fields. |
The clock is running out on Kimberley Process credibility Global Witness's Annie Dunnebacke class="" href="/2/hi/africa/7761268.stm">Eerie silence at Zimbabwe mine | |
The World Federation of Diamond Bourses in April banned the sale of diamonds from Marange, but Kimberley did not. | |
From Windhoek, Annie Dunnebacke, a spokeswoman for London-based Global Witness, told the BBC's Network Africa programme: "This is not something the Kimberley Process can stand by and accept from one of its participants." | |
She also said statistical anomalies were being reported by signatories. | |
"According to the Kimberley Process, Guinea's [diamond] exports have increased by around 500% in the past two years, which obviously raises eyebrows and raises questions," she said. | |
The campaigner noted there was significant illicit cross-border movement of precious stones between Sierra Leone and Guinea. | |
She also said that in Ivory Coast - which is due to hold elections in November following a bloody civil war in 2002 that was partly funded by conflict diamonds - production of the stones appeared to be increasing and they continued to be smuggled out to reach legitimate markets, despite UN sanctions. | |
"The clock is running out on Kimberley Process credibility," Ms Dunnebacke added. | |
Bernhard Esau, the Namibian deputy minister of mines and current chairman of the Kimberley Process, said "gaps can be strengthened" over enforcing the scheme in Zimbabwe. | Bernhard Esau, the Namibian deputy minister of mines and current chairman of the Kimberley Process, said "gaps can be strengthened" over enforcing the scheme in Zimbabwe. |
But he also insisted Kimberley had been "hands on with regard to the illicit diamonds from Marange". | But he also insisted Kimberley had been "hands on with regard to the illicit diamonds from Marange". |
The Kimberley Process emerged from global outrage over conflicts in countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone, largely funded by the plundering of diamond resources. | The Kimberley Process emerged from global outrage over conflicts in countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone, largely funded by the plundering of diamond resources. |
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