Marques Defamation Trial Postponed; Jewelers Come out in Support

(IDEX Online News) – The defamation trial of Angolan journalist Rafael Marques de Morais has been postponed until May due to ongoing settlement discussions, according to reports in The Guardian newspaper.

Marques has been accused by seven Angolan army generals and the directors of the Cuango Mining Company for alleging in his book Blood Diamonds: Corruption and Torture In Angola that they were responsible for killings, torture and land grabs in the country’s diamond fields.

The paper said that the journalist, who is facing 24 charges of criminal defamation over his investigation hopes that all but three will be dropped.

“We are discussing that the case between me and the generals be resolved amicably,” Marques told AFP. “This agreement, which could be announced at the next hearing on May 14, would permanently close the case, and would show that we are seeking reconciliation,” reported Forbes.

The Guardian reported that Marques has met privately with the seven generals, including the minister of state and head of the intelligence bureau of the president, and held talks that he said were very “good natured,” the newspaper said.

The generals are reportedly asking Marques to admit the possibility that they did not know about the human rights abuses carried out by their personnel. “What the generals want is an acknowledgement that they were unaware. They want to be exonerated from any responsibility for what happened. They say they were not informed of all the steps I took.

“We will say we took all the steps and it’s unfortunate that the generals didn’t get this information. It was not my intention to offend them. In the interests of peace and reconciliation, I will acknowledge that they were not aware. It’s a negotiation: fine, let’s move on,” said Marques, as reported by The Guardian.

Even if the case is settled with the generals, The Guardian said that the British, Mozambican and Angolan directors and partners of ITM Mining, which is also mentioned in the book, have requested that their case be separated from the rest and resume on 14 May. If he is found guilty, Marques could face up to a year in prison and a fine of about £150,000 9 ($227,805).

Tiffany & Co. and Leber Jeweler of Chicago, Illinois, have issued a joint statement calling for the charges against Marques to be dropped. “We…are concerned over reports of human rights abuses in the diamond sector in Angola, and over efforts by the Angolan Government to criminally prosecute the award-winning journalist and human rights activist Rafael Marques de Morais on charges of libel against a number of Angolan generals,” said the statement.

“As jewelry firms, we wish to work toward a global diamond supply chain free from human rights abuses. We respectfully call on the Angolan Government to drop all charges against Rafael Marques.”

The companies also asked for the formation of an independent commission at the highest levels to “fairly and objectively investigate the allegations of human rights abuses committed against artisanal diamond mining communities reported by Rafael Marques.”