Claiming that internal diamond controls are not rocket science, UK’s Global Witness said on Friday that existing technology could provide a solution to weak control systems, mainly in artisan mining areas. %% Alex Yearsley of Global Witness said a system called DiamCare had demonstrated that “mine to point of export” internal controls for artisan-mined diamonds can be implemented, and that this seemingly intractable problem offers a solution. %% “This system can provide internal controls in ways that work for producing countries and the diamond industry and strengthen Kimberley Process implementation,” Yearsley said. %% Last month, the United Nations Group of Experts on Cote D’Ivoire identified embargoed conflict diamonds smuggled from Cote D’Ivoire to neighbouring countries.

Meanwhile, the diamond industry is taking countermeasures against a possible fallout from the film, ‘Blood Diamond’, starring Leonard de Caprio, when it is released next month. %% According to the UN Group of Experts computerized registration of all persons involved in the trade connecting them to a specific zone, sector, area or mine can improve ineffective internal controls. %% It has also recommended sales registration to track the diamonds from point of origin to sale. %% These systems would be linked to Kimberley Process export control system. %% DiamCare® was originally developed by Paul Motmans to meet the requirements of the UN for more effective sanctions implementation in Angola, and for Kimberley Process internal control requirements. %% Since then, Motmans has refined the system, with advice from a group of international experts. %% “I developed this system out of the practical need to control conflict diamonds in Angola, and expanded it into a complete system of internal controls after seeing the terrible price paid by victims of widespread diamond wars,” Motmans said. %% The Diamond Development Initiative, which includes NGO’s, De Beers and the World Bank is one of the bodies now looking at DiamCare.