The credibility of the world's "blood diamond" monitoring group has been damaged after its failure this week to suspend Zimbabwe despite overwhelming evidence of serious human rights abuses and smuggling in the Marange diamond fields in eastern Zimbabwe.
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, scheduled to meet in Swakopmund, Namibia, from November 2 to 5, 2009, should immediately suspend Zimbabwe for continuing human rights abuses and widespread smuggling in the Marange diamond fields.
Human Rights Watch writes to South Africa Minister of Mineral Resources Susan Shabangu to encourage South Africa to support Zimbabwe's suspension from the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
Human Rights Watch writes to Indian Minister for External Affairs S. M. Krishna and Ambassador to Zimbabwe Venkatesan Ashok to encourage India to support Zimbabwe's suspension from the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
Human Rights Watch writes to Belgian Vice-Prime Minister and Finance Minister Didier Reynders to encourage Belgium to support Zimbabwe's suspension from the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
The Europeans have spoken. After a recent high-profile visit of European Union officials to Harare, the EU said it will not lift targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe and that it was premature to resume development aid to a country that had not made needed reforms.
Zimbabwe has failed to remove its armed forces from the diamond fields in Marange and to end related human rights abuses there. As a result, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) should suspend Zimbabwe immediately.
Human Rights Watch writes to Secretary of State Clinton in advance of her seven-nation tour of Africa to urge her to emphasize good governance, respect for human rights, and the rule of law.
