Diamonds in the Rough: Human Rights Abuses in the Marange Diamond Fields of ZimbabweThis 62-page report documents how, following the discovery of diamonds in Marange in June 2006, the police and army have used brutal force to control access to the diamond fields and to take over unlicensed diamond mining and trading. Some income from the fields has been funneled to high-level party members of ZANU-PF, which is now part of a power-sharing government that urgently needs revenue as the country faces a dire economic crisis. In February 2009, Human Rights Watch researchers conducted more than 100 one-on-one interviews with witnesses, local miners, police officers, soldiers, local community leaders, victims and relatives, medical staff, human rights lawyers, and activists in Harare, Mutare, and Marange district in eastern Zimbabwe.--Publisher description. |
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accessed accountability armed army arrested beat began bodies buy diamonds buyers carried Certification Chiadzwa concern conflict diamonds continue December demanded detained Development diamond industry diamond mining ensure February 21 five forced Forms four government of Zimbabwe guard Harare hospital human rights abuses Human Rights Watch illegal diamond illegal miners immediately interview with villager involved January June killed Kimberley Process KPCS labor lawyer leaders least leave licensed local miners Marange diamond fields March middlemen military Mutare November October operation ordered participant person police officer precious stones President prospecting reaction teams relocation requirements response Rights Watch interview senior serious shot smuggling soldiers South Africa standards stop Support syndicates taken told Human Rights took torture trade trucks turn United violations weeks witnesses women ZANU-PF Zimbabwe’s Zimbabwean ZMDC