Chinese blood diamonds fund Mugabe

Jonny7

And now for something different..

There are reports of absolutely horrific conditions at the mines, yet the Chinese continue brisk business with Mugabe - basically funding a flow of weapons into the unstable country and strengthening Mugabe's position, whilst doing little for Zimbabwe's economy or it's people.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/17/blood-diamonds-robert-mugabe-zimbabwe

43109

Where's the conspiracy?

There's nothing new about Africa being exploited by foreigners, it's been going on since the Europeans landed there hundreds of years ago.

Tzar Chasm

I think the conspiracy hereis a Conspiracy of silence, whilst most of us are ranting about Israel/Zionists/NWO etc we are complicit in ignoring some of the most henious Human rights abuses happening in the world today, namely the situation in Africa, its not just Zimbabwe where people are ruthlessly exploited by tinpot dictators however thats the one this thread is about so lets give it some airtime.

I think the curent lack of discussion stems from some sort of Historic guilt, after all these lads were happy enough with their lot til 'we' he Europeans came along and oppressed the everlivinsh!te out of them, and of ocurse it dosent help the story that the other party is China, our benevolent and forward thinking economic allies whowould never ever ever:rolleyes: condone Human righs abuses

43109

Bit of a Red Herring

Not falling for it, jonny7

Tzar Chasm

43109 wrote: »

Bit of a Red Herring

Not falling for it, jonny7

What do you mean by red herring???

Just because it dosent involve America/Israel or the rest of the usual suspects does not mean thata conspiracy is not afoot

43109

It's a red herring because neither of you give a **** about Africa or it's people and I'd only be wasting my time discussing it with you.

I don't know what the exact motive for starting this thread is, but it's completely disingenuous and I won't be taking part after this post.

You might be better off in the politics forum with it, good luck.

Jonny7

43109 wrote: »

It's a red herring because neither of you give a **** about Africa or it's people and I'd only be wasting my time discussing it with you.

And this assumption is based on?

brimal

43109, paranoid much?

Brown Bomber

Jonny7 wrote: »

And now for something different..

There are reports of absolutely horrific conditions at the mines, yet the Chinese continue brisk business with Mugabe - basically funding a flow of weapons into the unstable country and strengthening Mugabe's position, whilst doing little for Zimbabwe's economy or it's people.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/17/blood-diamonds-robert-mugabe-zimbabwe

The whole diamond industry is dirty IMO. China has total disregard for human rights; even that of it's own citizens. There is no doubt in my mind that if China were the worlds sole superpower we would all, as global citizens be far worse off.

Brown Bomber

Tzar Chasm wrote: »

I think the conspiracy hereis a Conspiracy of silence, whilst most of us are ranting about Israel/Zionists/NWO etc

Well to be fair Israel is involved in Zimbabwean diamonds.

The NGO Global Witness recently withdrew from the Kimberly Process, the supposed attempt to regulate the global diamond industry. The Kimberly Process had had delegitimised itself by authorising exports from Zimbabwea's Marangue Fields where rampant human rights abuses have/are taking place.

Global Witness leaves Kimberley Process, calls for diamond trade to be held accountable

5th December 2011

In a shocking move, the Kimberley Process recently authorised exports from two companies operating in the controversial Marange diamond fields in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean army seized control of the area in 2008, killing around 200 miners. Mining concessions were then granted in legally questionable circumstances to several companies, some of them associated with senior figures in Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party. Newspapers have reported that the Zimbabwean Central Intelligence Organisation, the state security service aligned with Mugabe whose members are accused of committing acts of violence against opposition supporters, directly benefits from off-budget diamond revenues.
http://www.globalwitness.org/library/global-witness-leaves-kimberley-process-calls-diamond-trade-be-held-accountable

It's scandalous that a self-regulating and supposed moral authority can reward this (from HRW):
Zimbabwe: Rampant Abuses in Marange Diamond Fields



Israel is the current chair of the Kimberly Process. In that role Israel played a key part in lifting the trade restrictions on Zimbabwe's blood diamonds. Much of these diamonds, certified and smuggled will end up in Tel Aviv.

Zimbabwe: Israel Backs Zim Diamonds


Harare — ISRAEL has called for everything possible to be done to ensure Zimbabwe remains within the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme saying the country has the potential to supply nearly a quarter of global demand.
Israel is the current KP chair.


Israeli diamond consultant Mr Chaim Even-Zohar and Israel's diamond controller Mr Shmuel Mordechai made the call during an intercessory meeting in Tel Aviv earlier this week.


Their call came as Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu told delegates that Zimbabwe would export its diamonds because it had met minimum KP requirements.


Israeli media quoted Mr Even-Zohar as saying Zimbabwe could potentially meet 25 percent of global diamond demand.
His presentation included information he gathered during a recent visit to the Chiadzwa fields. Mr Mordechai added that the KP would not be the same without Zimbabwe.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201006250039.html

Tzar Chasm

well it didnt take long for this thread to come round and start on Israel, I was afraid that would happen when I saw the OP mentioning Diamonds, I half expected someone to make the connection betwen Jews and Diamonds.

However can we discuss the topic raised, Why do we turn a blind eye, more or less, to the atrocities perpetrated by Mugabee?

Jonny7

Brown Bomber wrote: »

Well to be fair Israel is involved in Zimbabwean diamonds.

Brownbomber!!

for fecksake!

43109

Tzar Chasm wrote: »

well it didnt take long for this thread to come round and start on Israel, I was afraid that would happen when I saw the OP mentioning Diamonds, I half expected someone to make the connection betwen Jews and Diamonds.

However can we discuss the topic raised, Why do we turn a blind eye, more or less, to the atrocities perpetrated by Mugabee?

Wasn't that why Jonny7 started this thread?

As I said before, A Red Herring from the start and you've just proved me correct.