Loopholes in Customs Enforcement May Allow Conflict Diamonds into US Stores

Amnesty International today warned Valentine's Day diamond shoppers that loopholes in US Customs enforcement may be allowing conflict diamonds into the United States. Conflict diamonds originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and that are used to fund conflict, civil wars and human rights abuses. "Diamonds have been and continue to be linked to terrible human rights abuses, and concerns have mounted over links between such conflict diamonds and money laundering by groups like Al-Qaeda," said Mila Rosenthal, Director of Amnesty International USA's Business and Human Rights Program. "There have been positive steps toward protecting the legitimate diamond industry and diamond purchasers from contamination by conflict diamonds, but US Customs enforcement needs to be aggressive to end the flow of conflict diamonds." As part of an ongoing campaign, Amnesty International members are petitioning US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert C. Bonner, urging him to clarify whether there are periodic random checks of diamond imports and exports. Only through such spot-checks can the US satisfy the requirement of the Clean Diamond Trade Act to efficiently monitor diamond industry compliance with anti-conflict diamond measures. In addition, Amnesty International members are organizing nationwide events today, talking to employees and consumers at shopping centers, jewelry stores and department stores about what they can do to help stop the trade in conflict diamonds. [more]