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Diamonds and oil
Background of the civil war in Angola
Anne Young, Medico International
"Yesterday was the dark night of colonialism. Today the suffering of war, but the morning will be a paradise. This morning never came, only an eternal now. "(Pepetela 1992)
It comes to diamonds. To hardness, coldness, immortality and eternal wealth, "Diamonds are forever". That is the slogan of the house De Beers. A South African diamond monopoly, wants to know in time for the millennium sold the stone hardness best for the average consumer in the supermarket. Very many of these bright clear stones with blood itself: from the Congo, Sierra Leone, particularly from Angola. The carat stones everyone knows from large displays: not the diamond trade. In Angola, the business of diamonds and oil funded an ongoing endless war for 30 years. Whose end is still nowhere in sight.
Facts & figures
Lasted well over 10 years of armed struggle against the Portuguese colonial rule. After independence in 1974 the fatal confrontation was in a war between the MPLA government (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) and the rebel movement UNITA (National Union for the full independence of Angola) above. Even after the end of the Cold War - this time in Angola was the scene of a classic proxy war, the MPLA was supported by the USSR and Cuba, UNITA from apartheid South Africa and the U.S. - Angola has experienced five years of a fragile peace. At the end of 1998, the government forces and the rebel movement UNITA, despite four years of peace efforts by the UN, taken up the war again. Angola has long been the largest arms importer in Africa and maintains one of the largest armies in the continent. In the meantime always virulent hope for peace was destroyed each anew. Since 1961, this war has over 500 000 people lost their lives in Angola. Tens of thousands are crippled by accidents with landmines. Millions of mines are still in the ground and are a permanent threat to the population represents Angola is among the poorest of the poor countries:
65% of the population living in absolute poverty
200 people die of hunger every day
11 million people are on the run.
Angola is at the same time for its natural resources, the fourth richest country in the world.
The dirty war diamonds
Diamonds are the most important resource of UNITA led by Jonas Savimbi to finance the war in Angola. Between 1992 and 1998, UNITA achieved profits of at least $ 3.7 billion from diamond sales. Sales on markets in Europe are the backbone of the war finance UNITA. The diamond trade is a good example, where you can identify the bloody traces of the war profiteers excellent: Transnational Corporations, governments, private mercenary companies and their compounds, to be chosen as well. The global players are just as interchangeable as the merchandise. The example just the allegedly undurchschaubarsten African massacre is certainly the presence of a coolly calculated political economy of war. The current influx of realized funds and provides information: Important buyer of Angolan diamonds is the company De Beers. For 60 years, dominated the British-South African company and its Central Selling Organisation (CSO), the international diamond industry by classifying more than 70 percent of global diamond production, value and sell. In 1998, De Beers a huge turnover of approximately U.S. $ 3.35 billion. Contrary to such transactions, the UN Security Council 1998, two resolutions that prohibit the direct or indirect export of unofficial Angolan diamonds. This applies to diamonds that have no certificate of origin (Certificate of Origin) and excludes the diamonds traded by the Government not to. Research shows that the sanctions are not reliable.
Crucial for the enforcement of sanctions namely, the question of whether diamonds can be reliably identified as Angolan goods. International diamond experts have long pointed out that the origin of diamonds can be readily determined. When you're trying to return to the mine, which they were sold. The controls in Angola are of utmost incompleteness, porous and therefore not a real solution to the pacification of the Angolan conflict. What is important is to carry out inspections, especially in the countries that benefit directly from the trade, in the large markets and within the spheres of distribution in Europe and the U.S..
De Beers writes to Medico
In a letter to Medico International, De Beers announced their intention to withdraw from Angola and so far to go through the UN embargo beyond. This success, which the media welcomed as a clear result of our campaign, requires quite the critical questioning. It could also be that the elimination of the illegal market (within the gray informal sector) plays an important role, the cartelised the conglomerate wants to eliminate such a happy disposition. The U.S. Secretary of Madame Albright also the illegal diamond trade in Africa declared war. The aim now is the reintegration of the African commodity trading in the "formal global market." However, it may not quite be our goal to protect synchronous with the U.S. government's largest diamond company ahead of the competition the illegal market. Rather, the overall impact and importance of trade with the northern Angola (and other African countries) for the continuation of the continental wars to be addressed internationally. It's about consequences from the date of receipt letter is De Beers and certainly not to the deeds and to be measured against the promise. We demand: to be able to prove to changes is the establishment of an independent test committee that awards a certificate of safety, indispensable. Distributors that are contrary to the UN embargo would be prosecuted and lose their license. Rehabilitation: In addition, the companies that have benefited for years in the trade, to be held responsible for the repair of war damage and to compensate the victims. UNITA took the announcement of the diamond group shrug note - she had anyway never diamonds sold to De Beers and a principle remains still force: "Whoever is a millionaire ever, whoever wants a woman put a ring on the finger of who the money it has given the diamond that is "the principle. (Alcides Sakala).
Oil for War
Especially oil exports to finance African wars. They refuel financially. While the rebel movement UNITA their weapons purchases largely financed from the proceeds of diamond exports, the MPLA government of Angola is under President José Eduardo dos Santos rely primarily on oil exports. The profits from oil production to make up half of total government revenues, the oil production contributes 94% of export earnings. For new oil finds Angola will soon ascend to the biggest oil exporter in Africa. Oil worth $ 11 million is already being promoted daily. The conflict notorious names of the most important customers: Exxon, Chevron (U.S.) and Elf Aquitaine (France). "We are able to help Angola in the growth of its economy and to meet the social needs of the people," was announced Chevron director Richard Matzke recently. "Knowledge and technology from experienced business people" were henceforth to export to Angola. No question that the oil revenues have been pledged by the government in advance, and the rest of the oil that makes arms purchases that make the war indefinitely.
Soldiers of Fortune
"We are working for cash for peace":
On the side of big business and the African warlords in control over natural resources, are private mercenaries. These "Soldiers of Fortune" assist many years the warring parties and the transnational companies in Angola and elsewhere in Africa. For political scientist Peter Lock is an inevitable consequence of globalization. "The need for the exercise of economic interests, security must increasingly be guaranteed in the global competition of locations cost-effectively," Quick, efficient and above all beyond protracted international use negotiations and appeal mechanism which was -by mercenary armies always ready. Outside the control of governments and the UN community: and therefore also irresponsible and prepared everything.
The South African security agency Executive Outcomes (EO) is the market leader in private security. They recruited their mercenaries mostly from Koevot notorious special forces unit of the former South African army. The range includes all the military services, which are necessary for a ground war. EO 1992 has protected the oil companies operating in Angola and Gulf Pentrangol Chevron oil fields off the coast of Soyo. This culminated in 1993 in the offer to restructure the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) and new form. Two years later, captured the mercenaries and the diamond centers Saurimo Cafunfo back in the province of Lunda Norte. Grand prize winner of this operation was the diamond company De Beers - the growing discontent with the control of UNITA over the diamond-watching areas and associated with EO Group Diamond Works.
1995 had the Angolan Government to terminate the contract with EO, after U.S. President Clinton had threatened to run dry the loans. Took over the contract to secure the Soyo oilfields then the American Military Professional Resources Inc. (MPRI): just as Clinton's mercenary squad under a different name. Originally Executive Outcomes had fought on the side of UNITA against the government. But it is a highly flexible company, his motto: "political openness in all directions as entrepreneurship." Which is also worthwhile: For their efforts got Diamond Works concessions in the Angolan diamond area: not an isolated case in the business of private security. African governments are often brought by the alliance of interests of private security agencies and foreign corporations in a hostage role: a sort of "Multinational neocolonialism" in the late 20th Century. In the U.S. Pentagon are mercenaries representatives has become socially acceptable and must be present at relevant planning meetings. As part of the new world design formula: "Public Private Partnership" have recently always military, politicians, entrepreneurs and neutral aid organizations under one roof.
A new planning Glacis has formed to mesh into the military offensives, economic ambitions and humanitarian considerations and be justified by reference to redundant security interests and enforced together. It's about "a neoloberale ideology in whose name private militias must defend the values of the investments and free businesses unpatriotic." (Laurence Mazure)
The economics of war
The causes of the long war in Angola is clearly naming not easy. The African economy is connected via two couplings with the world market, "Firstly, mineral resources such as diamonds, oil, copper and other mined by global corporations in Africa, on the other hand take the IFIs influence on political actors in Africa." Globalization is being implemented by a management alliance between transnational corporations and dominant states. These are the wars in the African continent, has significant influence. The globalization of world trade pulls a misery thrust himself: never raged more armed conflicts than in the era of capitalist universalization. The transnationals have as little interest in ending the conflict such as the Angolan warlords. Based on their control over the diamond and oil trade Angolan President dos Santos and UNITA leader Savimbi are among the group of the richest men in the world. This was made possible by trade with the willing north. Without this financial supply at the end of the war would be long. If the transnational corporations willing to employ the material support of the conflict and to block the economic relations of the warlords, then the business of violence would be unprofitable. This would at last the hour of the silenced majority of Africa.
Campaign against the diamond wars in Africa
The bloody massacre in Africa are funded primarily by the sale of diamonds. In Sierra Leone. In Congo. Particularly in Angola: The flourishing trade in diamonds and oil for 30 years, the material basis of the war langandauerndsten Africa. The profiteers: Transnational Corporations. Governments. Private mercenary firms. Diamond markets. Medico, by contrast, now the international campaign FATAL TRANSACTIONS. A coalition of medico & our selected partners NIZA, NOVIB (Holland) and global witness (UK).
OBJECTIVES AND CLAIMS
Prohibition of trade and import of diamonds with which wars are financed
SANCTIONS against traders who violate the global ban.
Confiscation of the goods, prosecution and loss of license, boycott.
FINANCING of war damage by eliminating those who have benefited the trade.
Obligation of the Company to compensate victims.
DE BEERS: the world's largest diamond producer has already responded. In a letter to medico, is they wanted to end the trade in Angola. De Beers withdrew from Angola. After 20 years of war on the exploitation of an almost moribund state. We call for war damage removal and compensation for victims of DE BEERS. Of all the other profiteers too!
