Created to stem the flow of illegal diamonds, The Kimberley Process is on the tip of collapse, as its leading designer, Ian Smillie, leaves angrily. He says governments and the industry have to act against gross violations.
Blood Diamonds are used to feed civil wars, conflict and human right abuses. Topping the list is Zimbabwe, where around 10-20,000 illegal diamond miners were brutally murdered last year by the army, as the government took over control of a major mining area. Both illegal workers and the African Consolidate Resources were evicted from the area by government officials.
Enormous havoc can be caused in a nation by just a small number of conflict diamonds. It is now believed that up to 20% of the world's diamonds are from the unlawful trade of Blood Diamonds. The Kimberley Process, created by governments to halt the trade has failed to reach its goal, because of a lack of implementation. Stones to the value of $23 million enter the industry from Sierra Leone alone, being certified as legal.
Most of the African diamond-rich nations are extremely poor, with no assistance flowing down to the people from their countries mineral riches.