Johannesburg - The Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition has called on the watchdog body focused on preventing conflict diamonds from entering the market to uphold its ban on the Central African Republic (CAR).
Speaking at the opening of the four-day Kimberley Process plenary meeting in Midrand, Shamiso Mtisi, the coalition’s co-ordinator for the Kimberley Process, noted that diamond zones in both the east and west of the CAR remained unstable and outside official control.
“We note the effort laid out in the proposed work plan sent by the Kimberley Process to the CAR, but believe it is premature until the country (and the diamond zones) are stabilised. As a result the embargo must remain in place,” Mtisi said.
The global body, which was formed 10 years ago, initiated the ban on CAR diamonds in May, after rebels seized control of the nation from former president François Bozizé in March.
The Kimberley Process had its work cut out in implementing measures against conflict diamonds, Mtisi said.
“The idea that multimillion-dollar diamond deals are being transacted in briefcases of money is hardly an image that reflects well on the Kimberley Process as a regulatory body, nor on the character of jurisdictions that allow it,” Mtisi said.
Susan Shabangu, the Minister of Mineral Resources, said the diamond industry had been on a “roller-coaster ride since the global financial crisis, and the years between 2009 through to 2012 have presented a challenging period for all participants across the diamond value chain”.
South Africa, which is the outgoing chair of the Kimberley Process, received a tongue lashing for failing to take leadership in shaping the process.
“It was an opportune time for South Africa to show leadership, to present an African perspective of how the Kimberley Process could be steered into a new era and to enhance our collective relevance and credibility,” Mtisi noted.
“We regret that nothing has come of this.”
Mtisi was referring to how South Africa was asked for, and was given, some ideas on reshaping the Kimberley Process.
One suggestion was that the definition of conflict diamonds be expanded. It should be enlarged from sales by rebel groups to include transactions by dubious governments and private security firms.
China will become the new chair of the Kimberley Process next year and Angola is bidding to be vice-chair. If Angola wins, it will take the chair the year after.
Angola, one of Africa’s biggest diamond-producing countries, has addressed widespread abuses linked to the repatriation of miners to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
But Rafael Marques, an investigative journalist, had been prosecuted in Angola over his probes into conflict diamonds there, which was a concern for the coalition, Mtisi said.
“It reflects poorly on the Kimberley Process, as well as Angola, that a potential Kimberley Process chair would preside over a case that so blatantly attacks one of the pillars of the Kimberley Process.” - Business Report