Conflict Diamonds

Conflict Diamonds (or blood diamonds) is defined by the United Nations as "rough diamonds that are used by rebel movements to finance their military activities, including attempts to undermine or overthrow legitimate Governments” (Tamm 5). DeBeers, who operates 50% of all of the worlds diamond mines, and purchases 80% of those on the open market, has been cited as a major purveyor of conflict diamonds.[1]

Countries involved in Conflict Diamonds

• Angola: Both the Angolan Armed Forces and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) have been known to traffic in conflict diamonds. In 2004, the diamond trade was allowed to restart under a publically owned corporation termed Ascorp, despite the continued existence and trade of conflict diamonds.[2]
• Liberia has been the source of many conflict diamonds, as well as being the sponsor of "rebel" groups in other African countries, most notriously the Revolutionary United Front in Sierra Leone.
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Sierra Leone: The Revolutionary United Front, which fought a decade long war in Sierra Leone, was funded mostly through diamond transactions conducted through Liberia.

SourceWatch resources

• Blood Diamond (Film)
• Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices
• Douglas Farah
• Victor Bout
• World Diamond Council

Web resources

• Douglas Farah's weblog tracks news on "blood diamonds"
• 'Conflict Diamonds':Americans Can Stop The Damage They Do
• Diamonds in Conflict

Books & films

• Douglas Farah, Blood From Stones : The Secret Financial Network of Terror, Broadway, 2004. ISBN 0-76-7915623
• The Blood Diamond , a fictional drama film on "a farmer, a smuggler, and a syndicate of businessmen match wits over the possession of a priceless diamond." The fil, starring Jennifer Connelly and Leonardo DiCaprio, is scheduled to be released in 2007. [3]