Hollywood actors flock over to see him. Some accept cash from the proto-dictator. Some scions of American political dynasties accept more money from him, supposedly for the poor. Some American "activists" just swap a bit of spit with him. But have any of the steady string of visitors asked (T)Hugo Chavez how he supplements his income? Being a glad-handing financier of Hollywood movies and activist vote-buying schemes costs money, you know. And what better way to do it than by smuggling and trading in "blood diamonds?"
LONDON (AFP) – Rights campaigners Global Witness called Tuesday for Venezuela to be excluded from the international diamond market, accusing it of undermining the fight against trade in so-called blood diamonds.
The group called on the European Commission to expel Venezuela for "flagrant non-compliance" with the Kimberley Process (KP), the regulatory system designed to prevent trade in diamonds used to fund conflicts.
"Failure to do so could compromise the entire scheme," said a statement from the group.
"Nearly one year after clear evidence of massive diamond smuggling in Venezuela came to light, the country continues to flout the KP," said Charmian Gooch, Director of Global Witness in the statement.
"If the KP does not address large-scale smuggling of rough diamonds in Venezuela and other countries, it cannot effectively protect against the threat of blood diamonds."
Global Witness referred to a 2006 report by Partnership Africa Canada, a non-governmental agency, that implicated Venezuela in the trade in illicitly mined and smuggled diamonds.
"Venezuela has also failed in its obligation to provide the KP with an annual report and credible statistics this year," it added.
Partnership Africa Canada (PAC) itself echoed that position in a press release on its website:
"Venezuela made a half-hearted attempt to supply a few statistics earlier this year, but the numbers are simply not credible," it said.
PAC said it had repeatedly called on the European Commission, which currently administers the Kimberley Process, to "get tough with Venezuela."
So, Danny, how many people may have died to supply money for your films? Yo, Sean and Kevin and Joe, how does it feel to be pals with someone who trades in diamonds potentially tainted with human blood? Hey, Cindy, used enough mouthwash yet?
Just when you thought you'd heard how bad Hugo Chavez is , he ups the ante. Here's the press release from PAC. It is not clear how much of the trade referred to here is from domestic Venezuelan production (They have a fair amount) and how much more is from smuggled African diamonds. But a lot of diamonds (in fact, all 150,000 carats of them) have gone missing in Venezuela – in defiance of international agreements. That helps hide real conflict diamonds in the world market and provides a back channel for more smuggling. Think nobody uses that?
