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| May 15, 2003  Congress Approves Conflict Diamond Legislation ‘Diamond warlords’ financing scheme for reign of terror is over’ WASHINGTON — Legislation to prohibit the import of so-called “conflict diamonds” – those gems mined in African nations helping to fund human rights abuses and which reportedly have been linked to al-Queda - passed the Congress on April 10. “This will be a day long remembered not just for those in Washington, but more importantly for the victims of African diamond warlords who have suffered physically and emotionally for years,” says Richard E. Stearns, President of World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization that helped spearhead the legislation. “It is our hope and prayer that this legislation will send a clear message to those whose brutal attacks against innocent civilians represent lifelong anguish: ‘The financing scheme for your reign of terror is over.’” The bill, also endorsed by the diamond industry, is designed to choke off a key funding source for rebel groups in Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola and other nations. The illegal mining and selling of diamonds also has been associated in published reports with the al Queda terrorist network. The legislation will enforce an international system known as the Kimberley Process Certification System, which will ensure that diamonds entering the United States are legally mined and traded. Among the bill’s provisions: * Oversight and monitoring of the industry certification process. There will be government oversight and annual audits of the diamond industry's chain of warranties for “clean diamonds.” * Mandated US government coordination. Key administration agencies, including the State Department, the Treasury Dept., US Trade Representative's office, and the Departments of Commerce and Homeland Security, are responsible to ensure full coordination and compliance with the Kimberley Process. * Comprehensive monitoring and reporting: Annual and semi-annual reports, as well as a General Accounting Office report will provide monitoring on problems with the Kimberley Process and will also include information on countries not participating in the Kimberley Process and yet still attempting to export diamonds to the U.S. Monitoring will also be done on countries attempting to circumvent the certification process through the polishing of rough diamonds. Among key sponsors are: Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA), Max Baucus (D-MT) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Judd Gregg (R-NH), and from the House of Representatives are Amo Houghton (R-NY), William Thomas (R-CA) and Charles Rangel (D-NY), Henry Hyde (R-IL) Tom Lantos, (D-CA) and Frank Wolf (R-VA). Countless thanks to World Vision Policy Advisor, Ms. Rory Anderson, for her tireless effort over the last three years which helped to make the passage of this bill a reality. World Vision is a member of the Campaign to Eliminate Conflict Diamonds |  |
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