Russia Casts "Dark Shadow" over Kimberley Process Meeting
November 08, 23
(IDEX Online) - Russia's "unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine" cast a very dark shadow over KP's plenary meeting, delegates were told on Monday (6 November).
"The Kimberley Process was created to stop wars, but today it is a war that risks stopping the KP," said Dr. Michel Yoboue, Civil Society Coalition Coordinator, in his opening statement at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
He warned that Russia was once more set to jeopardize progress at the five-day hybrid online and in-person session.
"Progress is extremely urgent, as Russia's war is unfortunately not the only issue that deeply concerns us," he said.
He also highlighted what he described as a "complete lack of justice for victims of human rights abuse linked to diamond mining".
He pointed to the hundreds of people in Jagersfontein, South Africa, still suffering from the breach of a tailings dam, and to those living near the Letseng mine, in Lesotho, who he said were facing a similar threat.
"In In Kasai, D R Congo, thousands of people still have little hope of justice following the 2021 tragedy when wastewater from the Catoca diamond mine in Angola severely polluted the Thiskapa River. Mining companies and governments should take the lives of communities seriously," he said.
And there was still deep concern around diamond exploitation and trade in the Central African Republic, a decade after it was embargoed by the KP.
He praised Petra Diamonds for making a notable effort to provide thousands of alleged victims of years of serious abuses by private security guards of the Williamson Diamond, in Tanzania, a chance at a fair and effective remedy in Tanzania.
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was established in 2003 to prevent "conflict diamonds" from entering the mainstream rough diamond market.
Pic of the KP plenary meeting in Zimbabwe.