Blood Diamond film not a threat

NEW YORK - The movie, Blood Diamond, which is to be released in the United States on Friday, will have little or no impact on the diamond industry, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Minerals Energy and Water Resources, Mr Kago Moshashane, said the movie is actually more about the role of mercenaries in fuelling civil strife than conflict diamonds.
Mr Moshashane said the title, Blood Diamond, is only a catch phrase and not so much about the susbstance.
Mr Moshashane, who attended a sneak preview of the movie, said in an interview that the picture, based on atrocities that took place in Sierra Leone in the 1990s, mainly tells a story about the greed of mercenaries who in the pursuit of a large diamond sell weapons to both warring parties.
He said he was confident that consumers would continue buying diamonds as the movie did not portray diamonds as inherently bad and responsible for conflict.
In my own opinion the movie mentions diamonds but it is really about a historical event, he added.
Mr Moshashane said the diamond industry has been jittery about the impact of the movie on the sales of diamonds, especially since it is December when consumers buy engagement rings and other jewellery.
Though there is still concern, Mr Moshashane said he was relieved that the movie will not taint the whole industry.
Meanwhile, Mr Moshashane, who chairs the Kimberly Process, an organisation meant to keep conflict diamonds out of the market, said though the process is progressing well, their work was made difficult by some unscrupoulus diamond dealers and traders.
These people, he said, buy illigitimate diamonds, mix them with certified gems and then present them to the markets. However, he said any licensed dealer found to be engaged in such business will be banne.
Also, he said some countries, which are not part of the Kimberly Process, were used as conduits for conflict diamonds.
To stop them, Mr Moshashane, said they were banking on the UN to take action, as those countries are members of the world body. BOPA