from: http://www.aci.net/kalliste/ Click Here: <A HREF="http://www.aci.net/kalliste/">The Home Page of J. Orlin Grabbe</A> ----- De Beers Diamond Monopoly Those "Blood Diamonds" from Sierra Leone If we don't control them, they're bloody. THE sale of "blood diamonds" from Sierra Leone could cause a backlash against the industry, De Beers, the mining conglomerate, said yesterday. Sierra Leone's eight-year civil war has been fuelled mainly by the sale of diamonds from the east of the country, now largely controlled by the rebel Revolutionary United Front. The mines are the cause of much of the conflict. De Beers, which controls almost 70 per cent of the world's diamond trade, has not sold any from Sierra Leone for 15 years. It says the only stones it sells come either from mines it owns itself, or from those in Canada and Russia. It no longer buys from dealers, who have been known to mix stones from war zones with those from legitimate sources. But critics of the diamond trade say the other 30 per cent is open to abuse. Diamonds have often been smuggled from eastern Sierra Leone across the border into Liberia, where corrupt government officials certify them as Liberian. Calling for tighter self-regulation by the industry, Gary Ralfe, a spokesman for De Beers in London, said yesterday that Sierra Leone, though accounting for only one per cent of the global diamond trade, was the rotten apple that spoilt the barrel. De Beers has welcomed British moves to seek a United Nations resolution banning the sale of diamonds from Sierra Leone. But the country is the scene of only one of a number of conflicts in Africa fuelled by gems. Angola is another. Half a dozen countries, including Zimbabwe, are involved in a civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in which diamonds and gold are the main prize. Britain has criticised plans by Oryx Diamonds, a mining firm linked to Zimbabwe's government, to exploit a diamond concession in Congo. President Robert Mugabe has sent 11,000 troops to Congo to support the government against rebels. In return, Zimbabwe has been awarded major concessions in the mineral-rich regions of central Congo. Last September, Zimbabwe's army formed a company, Osleg, to run mining operations and has since arranged a partnership with Cosleg, a joint Congolese-Zimbabwean enterprise. Oryx Diamonds, which is trying to get a London Stock Exchange listing, is involved. After selling the precious stones, it will keep 40 per cent of the profits and channel 40 per cent to Osleg and 20 per cent to Cosleg. Mr Mugabe's government aims to use any profits from Osleg to fund the military operation in Congo. Oryx denies that its concession is in a war zone. It says it is acting legally and the project will bring investment to the region. If there were any sanctions in place it would abide by them. The Electronic Telegraph, June 8, 2000 ----- Aloha, He'Ping, Om, Shalom, Salaam. Em Hotep, Peace Be, All My Relations. Omnia Bona Bonis, Adieu, Adios, Aloha. Amen. Roads End <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html <A HREF="http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
