Conflict diamonds...

That special day has finally arrived. You walk up to her, go down on your knees, and offer her the glistening diamond ring. The happiness on her face is radiating with a special glow as you slip the precious stone on her tender fingers. It is a breathtaking moment which isolates both of you from the entire world.

Meanwhile; deep in the forests of Sierra Leone, a woman screams in agony as a group of revolutionaries brutally drag her outside a hut and rape her. Her children watch the crime with a horrified expression, helpless to the armed men. After the sin is committed, the pitiless revolutionaries beat her to death using bamboo sticks with nails embedded in them. This is the price paid by millions of such families for that one moment of happiness in your life. The diamond on your beloved one’s fingers is a conflict diamond.

It all began in late 90’s, when the government of Sierra Leone was in a precarious condition. The Revolutionary United Frontier had a clear intention in their mind – to give birth to insurgency in Sierra Leone. "No More Slaves, No More Masters. Power and Wealth to the People." was the slogan they publicized largely, but their alternative for the unjust government was equally unknown. After overthrowing the government, the RUF rebels captured a majority of the population, and subjected them to ruthless torture. An estimated 23,000 children were brainwashed to join the RUF as soldiers, brandishing rifles and knives in their little hands. Girls were forced into prostitution; pregnant mothers were killed for entertainment. The primary occupation of the locals being working in the diamond mines, these workers had to compromise with their hands; which would be hacked off by the rebels. They feared that these locals would work for the government, so they took the” necessary” measures. Meanwhile, approximately 20% of the diamonds were being sold in the international markets, along various routes in South – East Asia and the Indian sub-continent. RUF used the cash-flow from these diamonds to buy arms and ammunition.

While the present situation is a lot much better, it was shocking to know that a crime of this degree existed just a few years back. Today, Sierra Leone is a third world nation struggling to recover its economy and social life. Interpolations indicated a loss of around 2, 00, 000 lives during the coup. International acts such as the United Nations mandated Kimberly process have ensured that countries exporting diamonds certify that the precious stones are not misused. The number of conflict diamonds in the international diamond market today is reported to be less than 1%. Africa is slowly rising once again on its feet, and its citizens hope to have a better tomorrow to dream of.

(For further references, kindly visit www.diamondfacts.org)