Rights group calls to halt Zimbabwe diamond trade

[cory777]

Source: AP

A leading international human rights group called on the global diamond industry's oversight body on Monday to remove Zimbabwe from its ranks because of alleged illicit trading and abuses in its diamond fields.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch said its researchers have found evidence of forced labor, torture, beatings and harassment by troops in the Marange diamond field in eastern Zimbabwe.

The group wants Zimbabwe to be suspended from the Kimberley Process -- the global body responsible for ending the trade of so-called "blood diamonds" that fund fighting across Africa.

Zimbabwe denies the allegations.

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[Earth_First]

1. I wish that diamonds were worthless...

It would put an end to these horrible atrocities.