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Call to remove Jubilee display 'blood' diamond printable version

23 Jun 2012: posted by the editor - United Kingdom, Palestine

The Royal Family and De Beers’ exclusive Forevermark diamond brand is in danger of being damaged by association with the Steinmetz Company that funds and supports a Unit of the Givati Brigade of the Israeli military. The Givati Brigade was responsible for the massacre of 21 members of the Sammoni family during the Israeli assault on Gaza in the winter of 2008-2009. A UN Human Rights Council investigation concluded that Israeli forces committed serious war crimes and possible crimes against humanity in Gaza.

De Beers have put on display a Forevermark Steinmetz diamond in the Tower of London to mark the occasion of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. The Sammoni family and human rights activists claim the diamond is a blood diamond. The Steinmetz Diamond Company funded and supported the Givati Brigade as it attacked the Sammoni family in Gaza in January 2009.

Helmi Sammoni, speaking on behalf of the surviving members of the Sammoni family issues this appeal to the Queen: "On behalf of the surviving members of the Sammoni family and the hundreds of other families in Gaza who have been killed by war crimes committed by the Givati Brigade of the Israeli Army, we are shocked and disappointed by the decision of De Beers to present the Queen of England with a diamond manufactured by the Steinmetz Diamond company—a company which supported the Givati Brigade during the Israeli war on Gaza late 2008 as they murdered 29 members of our family in cold blood. We the Sammoni family call on the Queen of England and the British people to decline this gift. We demand that De Beers be instructed to remove this offensive blood diamond display immediately." (Translated from Arabic).

In June, Charles Stanley, Forevermark U.S. president, said consumers “want to know that our diamond is from a responsible source and that they can trust it.” He said De Beers can’t afford to have problems with diamonds. “We rely on the fact that the consumers truly believe in the diamonds that they buy. If that promise gets unhinged in any way then economic value is eroded very very seriously and clearly, as De Beers, that’s a huge risk for us and we can’t afford that to happen.”

Following an initial protest last Sunday at the Tower of London, human rights activists will stage a second protest there on Sunday June 24th at 14:30 calling for the removal of the Forevermark Steinmetz Jubilee Diamond. A spokesperson for the activists, Sean Clinton, said: “De Beers should respect the wishes of the Sammoni family and remove the offensive blood diamond. They should extend the Forevermark promise of “responsibly sourced” diamonds and ensure that the companies they use to cut and polish their diamonds are not funding war crimes or crimes against humanity. The promise of a conflict-free diamond shouldn’t end at the mine gate; it should extend along the entire supply pipe from mine to market.”

Notes
1. The Sammoni family’s appeal—http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpUTTGz6U-c Helmi Sammoni, speaking on behalf of the Sammoni family, issued this appeal to Queen Elizabeth II. “On behalf of the surviving members of the Sammoni family and the hundreds of other families in Gaza who have been killed by war crimes committed by the Givati Brigade of the Israeli Army, we are shocked and disappointed by the decision of De Beers to present the Queen of England with a diamond manufactured by the Steinmetz Diamond company—a company which supported the Givati Brigade during the Israeli war on Gaza late 2008 as they murdered 29 members of our family in cold blood. We the Sammoni family call on the Queen of England and the British people to decline this gift. We demand that De Beers be instructed to remove this offensive blood diamond display immediately.”

\2. De-Beers Forevermark Press Release http://www.debeersgroup.com/ImageVaultFiles/id_1889/cf_5/Forevermark_Steinmetz_Jubilee_Pink_Diamond.PDF The Steinmetz Forevermark Jubilee Pink Diamond has gone on display at the Tower of London to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. This unique, fancy pink-brown colour, 35.60 carat cushion cut Forevermark diamond has been inscribed with a bespoke number, 19522012—the year of HRH Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation and the 60th year of her reign. It took the experts at Steinmetz Diamonds six months to perfect the cut, crafting the beautiful cushion cut from the original 179.96 carat rough diamond.

3. Steinmetz Foundation Website—http://www.steinmetz-foundation.co.il/main.asp?sel_nav1=6&sel_nav2=46&sel_header=Others&cat=site The Foundation has “adopted” Tzabar Unit of the Israeli Defense Forces’ Givati Brigade. The Foundation fosters a close relationship with the commanders and their soldiers, helps the brigade organize evening events, buys equipment for end-of-course ceremonies and gives aid to needy soldiers. During Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip, the Foundation helped the Unit purchase complementary equipment as well as visited and cared for the wounded soldiers.

4. ICRC report—http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/news-release/palestine-news-080109.htm The ICRC/PRCS team found four small children next to their dead mothers in one of the houses. They were too weak to stand up on their own. One man was also found alive, too weak to stand up. In all there were at least 12 corpses lying on mattresses. In another house, the ICRC/PRCS rescue team found 15 other survivors of this attack including several wounded. In yet another house, they found an additional three corpses.

5. UN Human Rights Council Report of the Fact-Finding Mission of the Gaza Conflict—http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/12session/A-HRC-12-48.pdf Relevant section pp.159—166

6. Charles Stanley, Forevermark U.S. President speaking at the Rapaport Fair Trade Diamond Conference in Las Vegas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAOg8KzyEuo (Consumers) “…they want to know that our diamond is from a responsible source and that they can trust it.” and “We are a diamond company and that’s all we do. We mine $6 billion worth of diamonds every year and that‘s a high risk profile for any business. We can’t afford to have problems with diamonds. All of you who are selling diamonds as jewellers, we are ultimately a discretionary purchase. We rely on the fact that the consumers truly believe in the diamonds that they buy. If that promise gets unhinged in any way then economic value is eroded very very seriously and clearly as De Beers, that’s a huge risk for us and we can’t afford that to happen. So it’s vital we have to do this (Forevermark Promise) in my view and it is why De Beers have done what they have done”. In response to a question from Alan Martin, Partnership Africa Canada, about the percentage of trade Forevermark represents for De Beers he said Forevermark represents “the vast majority of value if not volume so clearly going back to the economic issue we are clearly through that process, we continue to grow the credibility of Forevermark we will be protecting the vast majority of our value”.

Full conference video - http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=40380

Tags: blood diamond

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