Topic: Conflict Commodities
Country: South Africa
Delegate Name: Evan Granito
School: Ann Arbor Community High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All South Africa position papers GLIMUN 2007 committees
Many nations have made stopping the trade of Blood Diamonds a top priority, but no one has been as adamant about this, or made as much progress, as South Africa. A blood diamond, (also called a conflict diamond, or dirty diamond) is a diamond mined in a war zone and sold in order to finance an insurgency, invading army’s war efforts, or supporting a warlords activity.
In July 2000, the global diamond industry announced its zero-tolerance policy towards conflict diamonds and continues to drive this policy. However, now in October 2007, the principle miner of uncut diamonds, Antwerp, in infamous for the laxity of their regulations. Blood diamonds are being mixed into batches of clean diamonds, making it virtually impossible to determine their origins and ownership. According to a study on diamonds by a non-governmental organization, Antwerp dealers “routinely settle multi-million dollar transactions in cash, and rarely offer receipts.” Sierra-Leone has also put into place an official diamond certification procedure, but with so many mines still under rebel control, its impossible to cut the blood diamond trade at the source.
South Africa is being negatively affected to a great extent by the blood diamond trade, and that is one of the reasons why they are so adamant about ending it. We have helped found, and whole-heartedly support the “Kimberly Process,” which is the most effective program in place to end the diamond trade. Through this program, diamonds can only be exported or imported when accompanied by a certificate from the exporting country. Just this should show the empathy we feel for the victims of this horrible institution. We even use the revenue from clean diamonds and the Kimberly process in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Some people may argue against South Africa’s claims, because of our huge role in the diamond trade community. DeBeers, a south African diamond mining cartel, alone mines about half of the worlds annual diamond output, and controls about 80 percent of global diamond sales through its central selling organization. Well, these stones don’t make up 4 percent of the worlds output, and because the conflict diamond trade is a problem, when should not attach a negative stigma to the diamond trade as a whole. The diamond trade, when done legitimately, has helped employ and support millions. The Kimberly process is named after South African mining centers, and was formed after discussions that were demanded by South Africa.
Conflict diamonds are elusive, and despite all efforts by South Africa, they will be around for a long time. It is estimated that 10 million people globally are directly or indirectly supported by the diamond industry. Boycotting South African diamonds as a whole will not solve the problem and will just weaken our economy severely. It’s the conflicts that need the diamonds revenue so badly they are willing to murder and oppress hundreds to get them. Unfortunately, unless more nations offer a helping hand, the conflict diamonds will be around as long as the conflicts themselves are.
