There are diamonds everywhere but stained with blood they are no one’s friend

“This is a task the Indian battalion tried hard to do in early May. But it penetrated too deep into the eastern region and the rebels, who even fought the west African states’ army (ECOMOG), continue fighting tooth and nail for retaining control of the mines. Therefore the 233 hostages remain a pawn in the diamond game,” explain UNAMSIL sources.

At 33, Timbo has lost her husband and father. Her brother is still missing and two of her cousins are in an amputee camp. Their arms were amputated as they tried to flee the diamond mining area, she says. She herself works at a bar and relaxation joint to be able to earn enough for herself and her daughter. She has heard of AIDS but says she could not care less. “After all it can’t get worse than this,” she says, blowing smoke rings and guzzling local beer.

“The war in Sierra Leone is all about the control of diamond mines. Here you don’t dig deep for diamonds. Kick a stone and in eight cases you will hit a diamond. There are diamonds in rivers and in fields. Both the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and the government are fighting for the control of Kono and Koidu areas,” says a UNAMSIL official.

“The economy of this country has ironically been ruined by diamonds. This country has a very fertile soil and both vegetables and fruits grow round the year. In the 1970s, the Leone (local currency) was more powerful than the dollar. But men with guns took away the men-folk for diamond-mining. Those who tried to escape were killed or maimed in the most brutal manner. Their hands were kept on a boulder and smashed with a rock. Farming was banned by the armed guerrillas and diamond-mining became the mainstay of life,” he adds.

Sadly, even the diamonds did not benefit the people. Kailahun, where 233 Indian peace-keepers and international observers continue to be detained, is near Kono district, the hub of the illegal activities. Diamonds are smuggled out for sale in the international market. There are very few jobs and no areas for growth and development.

“The rich are getting richer and the poor are either taking to drugs or prostitution. Despite all the resources (gold, incidentally, is not even high on the priority-list for mining) and abundant natural wealth, the country is the second poorest in the world,” says an official liaisoning with the government for the development of the country.

The UN peace-keepers are still not being allowed to go anywhere close to the eastern region of the country by the RUF since they make millions out of the illegal diamond-sales. “The task of UNAMSIL is to disarm the rebels and take control of the eastern region too. We tried and were taken hostages. Even now a solution to the problem cannot be found until the rebels are disarmed and illegal diamond-sales stopped. Only then the men forcibly taken away as labourers can return, efforts to restart agriculture begin and the economy kick-started,” says a civilian coordination official at the UN headquarters.

The legal diamond trade fetches the government about $ 20 million, according to “conservative” UNAMSIL estimates. It is the illegal trade by the rebels which is a cause for concern since they are rearming themselves, often with better weapons and equipment, making the task of the UN mission tougher.

“As of now, most rebels are disorganised. They are isolated in pockets, lack proper food and resources. Yet their masters have a lot of money. The rebels in several towns are looting and plundering houses even to eat. But if the money reaches them, disarmament and reintegration of rebel cadre would become near-impossible,” say UNAMSIL sources.

Diamond mines need to be controlled to check the war and bring in peace here. It’s easier said than done.