Blood Diamonds & Kimberley Process

Introduction

Diamonds are one of the expensive gem stones that on one end add significant value in country's economy but on the other hand are also a major cause of instability in many countries. Exports of diamond are increasing continuously in past few decades. In many African countries, rebels are controlling the trade of diamond. Revenues from its sale are used in illegal activities and for purchasing weapons. In order to address the problem and its causes, Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was introduced to legalize the channel of trade for diamonds. All diamond extraction and trading activities are required to get certification under Kimberley process to ensure legality of their activities.

In many countries, natural resources are used in escalating internal conflicts. Africa is one of the real life examples in this context. Many international agencies have focused their attention towards the emerging problems associated with diamond trade from areas which are under control of rebellious warriors. Conflict diamond concept has emerged with the increase in the value of diamond trade and its worth. Diamond is a natural resource which is valuable, easily transportable, and very few economic barriers. This natural resource is being misused in many parts of the world especially in African countries like Sierra Leone, Angola, Liberia, and Ivory Coast. Rebel unions use the revenues from trading of raw diamond for purchasing weapons and supporting their operations due to conflict with international bodies (Bieri, 44).

Conflict Diamond issues

Blood Diamonds, also known as Conflict Diamonds, are used in the illegal trading of diamonds to finance conflict, civil wars and human rights abuses in Africa. Profits from this illegal diamond trade in diamonds have been used by warlords and rebels in Africa to buy arms. The countries involved in the illicit trading of blood diamonds include Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.  According to the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) National Chairperson Freda Hughes, “The IPSC is highlighting this important ethical issue, and have started a campaign aimed at pushing the Kimberley Process to widen its definition of conflict diamonds to include all diamonds that fund human rights violations  - be they polished or unpolished diamonds, or used by state or non-state actors. Without such a definition, the KP is merely a charade aimed at fooling consumers into thinking that they are making ethical purchases.”

Recent investigations by the UN have concluded that Israel committed war crimes in Gaza during Operation Cast Lead in 2008-2009 and during the attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in 2010. All the while, Israel's occupation of the Palestinian people in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and Gaza Strip, and the Syrians in the Golan Heights, continues.

The History of African Blood Diamonds war, violence, conflict

Sierra Leone is a country in West Africa which is bordered by Guinea on the north and Liberia on the south, with the Atlantic Ocean on the west of this African country. Between 1991 and 2000, Sierra Leone endured a devastating civil war. The major source ...