(Rapaport…November 1, 2002) Several nongovernmental organization (NGO) activists today accused the diamond industry of not doing enough to halt the flow of conflict diamonds, the Associated Press reported.
Their accusations come just days after the World Diamond Congress adopted a nonconflict certification plan — promising to blackball any firm that doesn’t follow the rules — and just days before dozens of governments plan to adopt nonconflict regulations under the Kimberley Process. The NGOs claim the industry’s self-regulatory measures come up short.
“Despite two years of repeated promises, the diamond industry has failed to deliver a detailed and credible self-regulation system that will stem the flow of conflict diamonds,” said Alex Yearsley of Global Witness.
Leading diamantaires could not immediately be reached for a response. But when Yearsley made similar comments just before the Congress, World Diamond Council (WDC) Chairman Eli Izhakoff said the industry has done everything it needed to do. He called the accusations “unhelpful and unjustified.”