Blood Diamonds

Zimbabwe military controls large swaths of major diamond field where soldiers are accused of forcing civilians to mine the gems

Global witness, A British based group monitors the exploitation of natural resources. They welcomed the decision of Zimbabwe to halt a diamond auction on Thursday saying that the sale would violate the international rules meant to stem the trade in blood diamonds.

Elly harrowell, campaigner of conflict diamonds, says that the global witness did not believe the statement given by the Zimbabwe mines minister obert Mpofu i.e. the soldiers and police have withdrawn from the fields in November.

She said that we would not take the minister statement as reliable and also our information shows that it is not true. It is likely to believe that the military is withdrawn from two small areas, a report to AFP.

The eastern marange diamond fields cover some 66,000 hectares and the gems were discovered only there in 2006.

Harrowell says that, as per the past history, it is likely known that the military is still there. Still, they are forcing the local people to mining syndicates.

Global witness is forced to ban on Zimbabwe international sales over the abuses at marange, after Kimberley investigation documented.

Government says that the two South African firms now run marange and the companies are tired of beginning the diamond auction on Thursday till the Government suspends the sale.

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