The Global Witness human rights group strongly rejected recent claims that Zimbabwe now meets Kimberley Process criteria and can trade diamonds.

According to the group, State-sponsored violence and human rights abuses are still taking place in the diamond fields of eastern Zimbabwe.

Global Witness has serious concerns about the credibility of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme monitor's report, which recommends that Zimbabwe be allowed to resume diamond exports from the controversial Marange area.

A supervised export mechanism for diamonds from Marange was put in place in November 2009, as part of a work plan agreed between KP and Zimbabwe, to address the country's non-compliance with the scheme's standards.

The most recent report by the South African KP monitor, Abbey Chikane, alleged that Zimbabwe has now met the KP's minimum requirements.

"We are extremely concerned by the monitor's report, which directly contradicts information recently obtained by researchers and observers on the ground", said Elly Harrowell of Global Witness.

"There is no sign that state-sponsored brutality in the diamond fields has stopped or that the widespread smuggling of diamonds from Marange into neighboring countries has been curbed. Lifting the ban on Marange exports would mean letting blood diamonds onto international markets."

Commenting on the recent arrest of Farai Maguwu, head of the Marange-based Centre for Research and Development (CRD), after a meeting with the KP monitor, Harrowell said: "Human rights organizations in Zimbabwe are regularly harassed by the authorities.

"Chikane had been warned of the risks involved in meeting Maguwu, while accompanied by Zimbabwean government minders and intelligence agents, yet he neglected to take the necessary precautions. This raises serious doubts about his suitability for the role of KP monitor.

"The monitoring arrangement for Marange should be suspended immediately," added Harrowell, "and no exports permitted until the Zimbabwean government can give credible assurances that people providing information to the Kimberley Process will not be persecuted, and that the scheme's monitor will not be spied on by security agents.

"Zimbabwean authorities must stop all violence in the diamond fields and ensure that members of the military are not illegally involved in exploitation or marketing of diamonds. This is a non-negotiable condition for any resumption of trade."