Helene Huynh

March 12th, 2015

Power and Imagination
Alan MacCormack
The Conflict within blood diamonds
When people hear blood diamonds, they either think of the movie Blood Diamond
featuring Leonardo DiCaprio or they dont know what blood diamonds are. In addition to
a diamond being an object of beauty and wealth, it can also be an image of greed,
violence, and war. Most conflict diamonds come from central and southern Africa where
corruption is rampant. The most known and horrific case of blood diamonds being
circulated is Sierra Leone.
Most diamonds that are sold today and throughout time are found in Southern
African countries, where a company known as De Beers own most of the mines. De
Beers is a British based company that is the top supplier of rough diamonds (De Beers
SA). De Beers was founded in the 1880s when many of the Southern African countries
were British colonies. Since mining for diamonds in Great Britain has been annexed, the
Beers decided to run their business in southern African countries. They eventually
bought out most of the mines and built up a monopoly. Even to this day, they are one of
the more known rough diamond suppliers.
Today, diamonds are usually made in laboratories, where any type of carbon is
placed in to a high pressured chamber, making the jewel. The process of formulating

diamonds within a lab with any type of carbon makes it a safe and easier practice.
Although it doesnt have the same value or genuity of a natural mined diamond, its still
a better alternative knowing that the rock on your jewelry is made through humane
means rather than finding out that the diamond is mined by slaves that couldve been
killed either by the mine itself or rebel soldiers (National Geographic).
What exactly are conflict/blood diamonds? Conflict diamonds are diamonds that
are mined and sold by rebel movements; particularly in Africa, and are used to fund
arms purchases (Blood Diamonds, 2006). The mining of diamonds in these corrupt
areas is done by civilians who are forced to do so either against their will or for a small
profit. The profit is then used to not only fund arms purchases but to fund attacks and
other means of violence either against the government, rebels or other causes. The
ones that suffer the most through enslavement and corruption during these times are
innocent civilians (Armstrong, 2012).
The civil war in Sierra Leone is the most known case where conflict diamonds
were used to fund violence. Sierra Leone became a British colony around the late
eighteenth century (Frost 28). The colonization of Sierra Leone brought about the
enslavement and exploitation of its native people, it was particularly known for
Freetown; a place where slaves and servants would escape to. Even after escaping,
they were still exploited by the British colonists. A British based company known as De
Beers saw how valuable diamonds were, so they bought up as many mines as they
could to maximize their profit on diamond mining. Today, they are still known as one of
the biggest diamond distributers globally. African leaders at this time turned to the
British colonists for political and economic support for their own goals (Frost 28). Prior to

the civil war, Sierra Leone was already an impoverished country; even though it was
resource rich country, and was in turmoil both politically and in an economic sense.
Eventually, a group of rebels known as the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rose up
against the standing government at that time and thus began the civil war.
Throughout the civil war of Sierra Leone, civilians were forced to mine for
diamonds. Not only did the work put the civilians at risk, but having any affiliation was
also a danger to workers. Many civilians have had their limbs chopped off or families
killed for working in the mines (Blood Diamonds, 2006). When interviewed about the life
of an amputee, a man recalls the day when he had his hands cut off for being a mine
worker. The attackers left him at the side of the road for death. When he finally received
medical attention, he had learned that his house was burned down with his family
inside. Along with mine workers; women and children suffered just as much if not worse.
Rape, murder and mutilation were committed against women throughout Sierra Leone
(Johnson, 2002). Many civilians fled or took refuge in other surrounding African
countries such as Liberia (globalsecurity.org). Although the fight was between the RUF
and the government at the time, civilians took on most of the casualties and damages.
The working conditions of a mine worker at the time of Sierra Leones civil war
was very poor. There was no such thing as personal protective equipment of any kind.
Workers were forced to spend long hours underground or at the edges of bodies of
water searching, digging, or sifting through rocks and soil to find diamonds. Many
workers used what they could to search for the diamonds, some used their bare hands.
Most workers were forced in to labor, if they were to disobey in any kind of way, theyd
be threatened or killed on the spot. The inhumane treatment of civilians was and still is

an issue. The civil war carried on from 1991-2002, ending with over 50,000 deaths and
countless people missing (Sierraleone).
The conflict diamonds were sold off globally and the funds were used to buy
arms and support rebel efforts. Commonly, the diamonds were sold without certification
of authenticity, making them dirty. In 2003, there was a treaty signed and agreed upon
by some of the biggest diamond distributers. Called the Kimberley Process, it required
that all diamonds have a certificate of authenticity preventing conflict diamonds from
entering the market (Bieri, 53). Even though the Kimberley Process was put in to place,
sellers are known to fake the certification, meaning that there could still be tons of blood
diamonds out there, being mined and sold. The Kimberley process also did not do
anything to help or benefit workers.
The Kimberley Process (KP) was agreed on by some of the biggest diamond
distributers. The meeting was called upon by South Africa in Kimberley, South Africa.
Distributers came together and discussed the issues concerning conflict diamonds and
their effects on not only their own business but what effects it can have on a global
scale. The process was finalized in January 2003, but it was a voluntary process (Bieri,
103), meaning that the process was not law. There was little to no staff, regulation or
budget behind the process. Thus, there was no real push or strength behind the KP
since not a lot of people were enforcing it or even doing it. The KP is still in effect today
but not many are regulating it. Since the KP lacks the funding or staff, each year the
position of chairman is rotated among elected people. The position is also voluntary.
The lack of reform towards the Kimberley Process really illustrates how much the
diamond distributors care about the subject.

Most consumers dont always think about where their products come from.
When you ask someone where they got their diamond ring from, they answer Oh, from
the jewelry store around the corner! (Blood diamonds, 2006). Consumers dont really
think where half of what they buy comes from, where it really comes from or how its
processed. The truth is; either consumers dont want to be aware of the processes or
they are but they dont do anything if it bothers them. Sure, we always see those whom
take up a stand or host protests and think Oh yeah I support that, but I dont want to be
involved. So many people in todays society are passive towards many different issues.
As responsible people in society, we need to stand up for others. When one
purchases a conflict diamond, they are supporting violence against others. Or even
funding a war. The Kimberley process must be enforced and other laws must be made
in order to regulate the profit and authenticity diamonds. Laws should be put in place to
protect workers on a global scale. Awareness needs to be brought towards this subject
and others like it as well. It comes down to the sad fact that peoples lives are being put
on the line for an object. A diamond.

Works Cited
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Network, 16 May 2012. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.
Bieri, Franziska. From Blood Diamonds to the Kimberley Process: How NGOs Cleaned
up the Global Diamond Industry. Farnham, Surrey, England: Ashgate, 2010.
Print.
Blood Diamonds. Bill Brummel. History Channel, 2006. Online Documentary.
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Apr. 2015.
"Diamondfacts.org." Diamondfacts.org. Alessandro Bertoni & MDBC, n.d. Web. 25 Feb.
2015.
Frost, Diane. "The Political Economy of Diamonds, Governance & Civil War."From the
Pit to the Market: Politics and the Diamond Economy in Sierra Leone. Rochester,
NY: Boydell & Brewer, 2012. 59-78. Print.
Goreux, Louis. Conflict Diamonds: Sanctions and War. Working paper no. 13. New
York: United Nations Dept. of Public Information, 2000. Print.
I Didn't Know That: Diamonds. Perf. Richard Ambrose. I Didn't Know That: Diamonds.
National Geographic, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.

<http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/i-didnt-know-that/idkt-diamonds>.
Johnson, Eric. "Blood Diamonds." Blood Diamonds. Standford.edu, 6 Dec. 2002. Web.
25 Feb. 2015.
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<http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/sierra_leone.htm>.
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Sierraleonecivilwar.com. Sierraleonecivilwar.com, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.
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