Tony Hall On Blood Diamonds
By Kristina Onder, Volunteer, HHI
Kristina conducted a series of interviews with Ambassador Hall, documenting his career. In this interview, they discuss his work to end blood diamonds.
Tony Hall does not have the gloss or ego of a typical former senator.
Instead, he has the demeanor of a public servant, quiet, determined, and sometimes even shy. Hall, now 82 years old, served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1979 to 2002. After he left Congress, he was appointed by President George W. Bush as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture until 2006. Ambassador Hall was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998, 1999, and 2001 for his humanitarian efforts.
One would think that he would be eager to recall his accomplishments and maybe even brag a little. But Tony Hall is different. While he is not reluctant to share his stories, he seems almost surprised that people are interested in them.
Today, he tells me a story of one of his most remarkable achievements. “I was the author of The Clean Diamond Trade Act to end the blood diamonds trade. The Bill ensures that diamonds imported to the United States are not stripped from African nations or traded for weapons.”
“How did you become interested in this issue?” I asked. Hall nods, acknowledging the improbability of a man from Dayton, Ohio, taking on the diamond trade. “When we were in Sierra Leone, I saw many kids in refugee camps who were missing hands and even noses. The rebels would seize people who were mining these diamonds, line them up, and terrorize them to keep them from stealing or running away. Just slice off fingers or ears.” Hall stares off into the distance, his blue eyes widening as if reliving the horrific sight. While others might shake their heads and sigh, overwhelmed by the enormity of the problem, Hall took action.
“I spoke to diamond dealers in New York. I was in a room full of diamonds, tens of thousands of diamonds, and at one point, they put four uncut diamonds in my hands. “I said, ‘How much are those worth?’
“They said, ‘25 million,’ and turned and left.”
“Were you tempted to take them?” I asked. I knew the answer, but I had to ask.
“No, not at all,” Hall answered. “They wanted me to take those diamonds so they could say, ‘He’s as corrupt as anyone else.”
“Were you offended that they would test you in that way?” I asked.
“No, it didn’t surprise me at all,” Hall said with a sigh. “I’ve seen people do those kinds of things before. I’ve seen people shoot people. I’ve seen people starve. I’ve seen ugliness.”
Hall is quiet for a moment, the memory making its way across his face. Then he sighs and sits up straighter. “That has stopped with my Bill. Now, less than ten percent of conflict diamonds are bought from Sierra Leone.”
The Bill, known as the Clean Diamond Act, introduced in 2001 by Hall and Congressman Frank Wolfe, enforced laws against diamond smuggling. It criminally penalized smugglers of contraband diamonds and stated that any diamonds caught entering the country illegally should be sold to provide aid to the victims in the form of prosthetic limbs and other relief.
The Bill also blocked the assets of the violators of the law and required systems of verification and monitoring to guard against conflict diamonds. “I can’t help everybody I’ve seen, but I can help some people,” Hall says with a slight smile.
“You can make a difference,” he says, staring directly into my eyes.
Listening to him, I believe I can.
