It was intelligent (but immoral) for her to deny knowledge of BDs. But it was DUMB of her to take the diamonds in the first damn place. However, playing it out my head, its quite possible that she felt she was in no position to refuse Mr. Taylor's gift. i would totally get that, but she has never actually said it, at least to my knowledge, so its speculation on my part. If the "international community" (read: USA and western Europe) were serious about so-called "blood-diamonds," they would leave the small fish and go after DeBeers. From DeBeers we could go after Shell and "blood-oil," Bill Gates and "blood-coltan," and so on. (dap @ Bernadette) GIBy David Smith @ guardian.co.uk
The former head of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund has admitted receiving alleged "blood diamonds" from the British supermodel Naomi Campbell.
Jeremy Ractliffe said he personally kept three small uncut stones to protect the reputation of Campbell, Mandela and the fund, of which he remains a trustee.
The 74-year-old said he recently handed the diamonds to South African police and would be willing to testify at the war crimes trial of the former Liberian president Charles Taylor. Campbell told the trial at The Hague yesterday that she received "dirty-looking stones" after a 1997 dinner hosted by Mandela in Cape Town where guests included Taylor and the actor Mia Farrow.
She said she then passed the gift to Ractliffe on the luxury Blue Train, intending that he use them to benefit the children's fund.
Ractliffe confirmed in a statement today: "Three small uncut diamonds were given to me by Naomi Campbell on the Blue Train on 26 September 1997. I took them because I thought it might well be illegal for her to take uncut diamonds out of the country.
Read more @ Naomi Campbell gave me uncut diamonds | guardian.co.uk
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