India supports Kimberley's decision to suspend CAR.

SURAT: The Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has supported the decision of Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) to temporarily suspend Central African Republic (CAR) from the global body after a rebel coalition seized power there last March.

Diamantaires in the country, especially in Surat and Mumbai, have been warned not to import rough diamonds from CAR.

India imports around $15 billion worth of rough diamonds per annum. While 70 per cent of the rough diamonds are sold by the world's top diamond mining companies like De Beers, Alrosa, Rio Tinto and BHP, the rest enters the country through Zimbabwe, South Africa, Central African Republic (CAR), Belgium etc.

GJEPC officials said the resolution to suspend CAR was moved by the current Kimberley Process chair, South Africa and that 80 member countries, including India, were informed about the decision on Monday.

Industry sources said the ban has come into effect. A rebel alliance Seleka had overthrown the Central African government in March and was now in control of all the diamond producing centres in the region.

Based on the KPCS statistics, a total of 3.23 lakh carats of diamonds worth $60 million were exported from CAR in 2011. CAR is 14th among the world's leading producers of rough diamond by volume.

Kimberley Process was established 10 years ago in the wake of UN sanctions against Angolan rebels who were financing their war with illegally mined diamonds. The body set up a protocol for diamond buyers and sellers from mining to processing.

A senior GJEPC office-bearer said, "CAR is now under the control of Seleka rebels. They can use rough diamonds to finance their war. Such diamonds are conflict diamonds and all diamantaires in India should stay away from importing them from CAR."

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com