URGENT ACTION: IMPORT RESTRICTIONS ON
CONFLICT DIAMONDS
PLEASE CONTACT THE FOLLOWING SENATORS and REPRESENTATIVES IMMEDIATELY AND URGE THEM TO SUPPORT REP. TONY HALL’S
REVISED CARAT ACT
When Congress reconvenes in September after Labor Day, Representative Tony Hall plans to reintroduce the so-called “Carat Act,” a bill that places import restrictions on diamonds. We urge everyone concerned about the role of diamonds in fueling cruel conflict in Sierra Leone and Angola to immediately contact the Members of Congress listed below, and urge them to act favorably on the revised “Carat Act” if and when it comes before them.
Representative
Hall’s revised “Carat Act” contains three provisions that address the problem
of conflict diamonds:
Title
I: Language implementing the UN
embargoes against RUF-controlled Sierra Leonean diamonds and UNITA-controlled
Angolan diamonds, as well as well-known transshipment points, including
Liberia, Burkina Faso, and Congo.
Title
II. This will be an updated version of
the “Carat Act,” requiring certificates of origin for every diamond imported by
the U.S. over a certain weight, to take effect in 2002. The Customs Service could delay
implementation of this provision if 1) technology did not permit the origin of
cut/polished diamonds to be determined; and/or another system was in place to
sever diamonds funding link to wars.
(The other system is the Rough Controls regimen, see Title III, below.)
Title
III. This title will prohibit the
importation of diamonds from any cutting or exporting center that does not have
in place “Rough Controls,” which is the system that the industry agreed to in
Antwerp. Rough controls would include forgery-proof packaging and computer
database, export and import controls and inspection, criminal sanctions against
abusers, international inspection of the process, and an international
accreditation process for diamond exporters and importers.
Your letters should include
the following:
1.
I am deeply concerned about the importation of diamonds from Sierra Leone and
Angola that has enriched rebel groups that commit gross abuses against unarmed
people. I strongly favor import
controls so that American consumers, who buy 65% of diamond jewelry sold
internationally, do not unwittingly help these insurgent forces.
2.
It is my understanding that legislation to require some form of labeling on
diamonds imported by the U.S. will be considered by the Congress this
fall. I urge you to favorably support
legislation that requires either a country-of-origin certificate or an
assurance of diamond industry controls on the handling of rough stones.
3.
I strongly favor an American boycott of diamonds imported from rebel-controlled
Angola and Sierra Leone, and from countries which launder diamonds from these
conflict zones, namely Liberia, Burkina Faso and Congo.
4.
Urge your Senator or Representative to take action and support the revised
“Carat Act.” Ask that your elected
official contact you and let you know of his/her positions.
Contact the following
Representatives:
Florida Illinois
The
Honorable Rep. Young The
Honorable Rep. Crane
United
States House of Representatives United
States House of Representatives
Washington,
DC 20515 Washington,
DC 20515
202/225-5961 202/225-3711
Michigan Minnesota
The
Honorable Rep. Levin The
Honorable Rep. Ramstad
United
States House of Representatives United
States House of Representatives
Washington,
DC 20515 Washington,
DC 20515
202/225-4961 202/225-2871
New
York Texas
The
Honorable Rep. Rangel The
Honorable Rep. Archer
United
States House of Representatives United
States House of Representatives
Washington,
DC 20515 Washington,
DC 20515
202/225-4365 202/225-2571
West
Virginia Wisconsin
The
Honorable Rep. Byrd The
Honorable Rep. Obey
United
States House of Representatives United
States House of Representatives
Washington,
DC 20515 Washington,
DC 20515
202/224-3954 202/225-3365
Please write the
following Senators:
Alaska Delaware
The
Honorable Senator Stevens The Honorable
Senator Roth
US
Senate US
Senate
Washington,
DC 20510 Washington,
DC 20510
202/224-3004 202/224-2441
New
York Vermont
Senator
Moynihan Senator
Jeffords
US
Senate US
Senate
202/224-4451 202/224-5141