Glitter and Greed: The Secret World of the Diamond Cartel
- By Janine Roberts

DIAMONDS; RARE, ROMANTIC AND FOR EVER: The diamond industry depends on these myths to reap off billions of dollars in profit. This sensational investigation explodes such fallacies and reveals how multi-million-dollar advertising campaigns create this impression of precious rarity and romance. It reveals too a very secret and unromantic world, one that is dominated and controlled by a handful of mighty corporations. Excavating, cutting, polishing and marketing diamonds at the total cost of about two (2) US Dollars a carat, and selling it at exuberant high prices with false promises of good investment and romance, which both are in fact false.

Taking us through seven decades of intrigue and manipulation that span the entire globe, Janine Roberts explores how control was wrested from the original syndicates; how the interests of the diamond industry and the secret services mysteriously coincided in developing African nations; and how the long arms of the diamond cartel reach into countries and their conflicts worldwide. For child labor in India, as much as the opulence of New York's diamond center, has almost always been an integral part of the international diamond market from the days of Cecil Rhodes to the dramatic shifting of political power in today's South Africa.

From outback Australia to the frozen fields of Canada, "Glitter and Greed" uncovers an intricate web of power that serves one purpose: to preserve the diamond cartel's hegemony over the global supply of diamonds. JANINE ROBERTS is a distinguished Australian journalist, television producer and writer. "Glitter and Greed" her fourth book, took over ten years to research. It recently inspired a highly acclaimed BBC2 documentary.

All was going very well for her when her diamond investigative series got under way. In 1987 ABC committed to put major resources into producing a three part series written by Jan Roberts on the international diamond cartel. The series was called "The Diamond Empire." 1988. WGBH "Frontline" pre-purchased the USA rights within a week of seeing the script.

In 1990 the BBC commits to the series, three days after reading the script. In 1991 BBC Enterprises committed to international marketing of the Diamond Empire Series. Australian funders Film Finance Corporation, Film Victoria and AFC join funding consortium. In November 1991, pre-production commences of "The Diamond Empire", with the estimated delivery time of January 1994. It is to be shot in five continents.

It was perhaps the most international and expensive investigative series ever committed to by the BBC. By January, it was pre-sold to American, Swedish, Dutch and Australian Televisions. BBC Enterprises predicted it would sell it to all parts of the world. The BBC and WGBH Boston signed letters stating that Jan Roberts and her company would be in creative and managerial control of the film. Her credits would be that of producer and writer. On the basis of these letters, the Australian government invested more money than the BBC in the film. Production start with Jan Roberts producing major shoots in the diamond districts of the US and India. The shoots come in on budget.

Then it gets dangerous....
A condition was then set for some of the Australian government funding: she must insure her life for the value of the government's investment because of the perils she would face on her investigation of the diamond cartel.

In the midst of filming , the Oppenheimers, the family controlling De Beers and the diamond empire, put pressure on the BBC. The BBC then told her to leave the film to them to make and offered her a book contract instead. She was told that if she didn't agree, her film would be terminated. They proposed to replace her with a British producer and journalist. She was then sexually and violently assaulted by a gang of strangers who came to her home looking for her. Next day she was told that the BBC were demanding she totally give up the film to them. If she didn't, the film project would end. She decided to take the BBC to arbitration.

The beating inflicted on her leads to her falling critically ill with pulmonary emboli. On the day when in hospital she was told she was critically ill and could die at any time, lawyers, acting under direction of John Birt's office at the top of the BBC, demanded she agree to being replaced as producer - and that she drop her arbitration action against the BBC. As she now realized that no matter how strong her will, her body was not as strong and that the strain of resisting the BBC could effectively kill her, she decided she must put her health first and gave the film to the BBC. The BBC agreed in writing that they would send her by airmail all the research she needed for her book on the diamond trade if she signed - but once she signed and doesn't hear from the BBC again. She was in the hospital for two months but resolved to write the story nonetheless. The BBC then informed De Beers that she had been removed from the production.

Researching why the BBC were so insistent on her removal and why it refused to give reasons, she learned that the Oppenheimer family attacked her in meetings with the BBC, complaining that she was "obsessed" with investigating the diamond trade. The film was completed by the BBC in her absence and first first shown in the US. Despite her having produced many of the scenes in the film, her credits have practically vanished. When she asks why, she was told that the BBC gave instructions to remove her producer and journalist credits.

At her request, the General Secretary of the Broadcasting and Entertainment Industry Trade Union, the powerful BECTU, contacted high officers of the BBC asking that she be given the proper credit for her work. On the Friday before her film was shown, a senior officer of the BBC phones her to tell her that while the BBC did not deny that she produced part of the film, and was the senior journalist, it refused to give her any credit for her work on the film.

When the film series was shown on the BBC, in a censored version with a third of the content missing - but much substantially as she wrote it, with her credited as the originator rather than the producer, solicitors acting for De Beers write to the BBC indignantly complaining that the BBC had promised to remove her name from the film. The BBC (who do not own the film - it is owned by the Australian government investors - the BBC only bought UK transmission rights) then made a deal with De Beers stating they would not sell the film to any other country. The BBC tells Jan Roberts that the Australian government investors agree with this decision. This blocks the film being shown in South Africa and Holland - both of which had asked for it - and in the rest of the world. In Australia the ABC withdrew its $1.6 million dollar series at the last minute despite it being shown in the US and UK without legal damages having to be paid. The film remains buried as of January 1998.

But despite this, she did all she could to get the film out to more viewers- and to complete her book on De Beers. When De Beers tried to ban the American version of her film from being shown in the diamond rush area of Arctic Canada, their heavy handed action leads to the Federation of Trade Unions, the local environmental organization, Ecology North and the Dene Indians inviting her to speak. She is flown to Yellowknife and her film is put on in the largest hall in town with standing room only. Later, she becomes the guest of Dene Indians.

When she went to South Africa and Namibia to research her diamond book, she showed her film on De Beers property to the mine workers. De Beers tried unsuccessfully to ban her from several mines. The Union said she was the first person banned by De Beers since the Emergency of 1988!

In 1995, the World Council of Churches agreed to her requests to help fund the first post-apartheid miners' conference for Southern Africa. She was a guest key note speaker at this conference held in Namibia. While in Namibia she assisted with a two part series on Namibia's diamonds broadcast on Namibian TV. After she attacked the role of a diamond merchant (well known as a companion of Jackie Onassis Kennedy) and for employing former US intelligence agents, an American government agent warns her that her every word is being reported to Washington. The World Council of Churches also gives on her request seed money towards the setting up of a Center for Economic Reform in South Africa.

Her book "Glitter and Greed" on the world diamond trade is completed by 1996. It contains all that has been censored from the BBC film - and much more. The book tells of major international fraud; shows how the White House had been manipulated; the Kennedy's used in and out of office; Clinton's recent role; the roles played by international figures; the underside of the diamond Syndicate.

Janine Roberts Resume
Brought up as Irish although born in England - due to the influence of her granddad on her mother. She was born in Falls Road, Belfast.

1961-63 A First in Philosophy. 1964-67 Masters Degree Theology. 1967-70 Honors Sociology - London School of Economics & Bedford Colleges, London University. Elected representative of Sociology students, runner up President 1968. 1970-71 married and overland to Australia - six months travel backpacking in Asia. 1971-72 teaching. Two daughters born. 1973-76 National Director of International Development Action - coordinating educational campaigns on third world issues funded and sponsored by Australian Aid Agencies, World Council of churches and other bodies. From this time, full time writer and researcher. Edited, co-authored and published on Aboriginal, Pacific and African issues with prominent articles in major broad sheet newspapers.. Three well received books written. Produced a number of investigative documentaries, winning a Best Documentary Nomination. The latest film was transmitted as a Dispatches on Channel 4 in the UK in December 1997.

Now for a more detailed account.
1975. Aurukun Aborigines, part of the Wik nation, invite her to report their community on mining proposals (an 800 sq mile bauxite strip-mine planned for their tribal land.) Carried out resulting research project for community. Took part in actions that led to the canceling of the mine.

1976 Edited and co-authored "The Mapoon Books", a three part case study of the Mapoon Aboriginal community (and of the neighboring Weipa and Aurukun communities ) documenting their treatment by missions, governments and mining companies when the world's biggest aluminum (bauxite) mine took a 1000 square miles of virgin monsoon forest that was their hunting and spirit grounds.

Humphrey McQueen, Australian historian, reviewed this as "the finest, best researched and through study appearing in the Whitlam era."

1976 -1979 Set up Aboriginal support organizations around Europe.

1977 directed edit of shortened campaign version of film "Ningla-a-Na" on treatment of Aborigines in Queensland with permission.

1978 Wrote "From massacres to mining"; published War on Want in UK. It was also translated and published in Netherlands and Germany. Excellent press including a full page in "The Guardian" in England.

I979 Initiated and researched World in Action program"Strangers in their Own Land." A major legal case issued on this in Australia in which un-contradicted evidence showed that a British company, RTZ, had bulldozed Aboriginal tree platform graves, burning the corpses with the trees.

1980. Appointed mining impact consultant to the National Federation of Aboriginal Land Councils.

The first joint meeting of the N.W Australian ( Kimberly) Land Council and the North Queensland Land Council is called to hear her reports of overseas support and discuss reaction to mining industry pressure. She is asked to advise communities on the diamond rush into the Kimberleys.

Aboriginal elders invite her to Oombulgurri Reserve where they have already throw out De Beers. The Federal Government order the police in by helicopter to remove her as she did not get a permit from the State Government.

Reason for fuss: the world's biggest diamond deposit has been discovered nearby at Argyle.

1981. Wrote fully revised and much expanded edition of "Massacres to Mining: the Colonization of Aboriginal Australia." (publ. Dove (Now Harper/Collins)) Book launch has favorable coverage on main evening news on three major television networks. Excellent reviews. One of Australia's best known authors, Xaviour Herbert, (of "Poor Fellow my country" etc) in a review in "The National Times" said this was his first review since Miles Franklin persuaded him many years ago. He wrote of "Massacres to Mining" that:

"There is no doubt about Jan Roberts' feelings in the matter. Yet she handles her history with restraint that makes it a work deserving to be a classic in our history. Every revelation... is authenticated from official records but without marring the dramatic impact on the reader that is usual objective writing."

Excellent reviews prominently featured in major papers. The book is used in John Pilger documentaries and by Robyn Davidson. She asked for permission to "plagiarize it"for her book about her camel trip across Australia "Backroads".

1981. Commenced to write freelance for "The Age"in Melbourne. Her first article is full page, advertised on television and nationally syndicated. It is entitled "This is the largest diamond deposit in the world, it is Australian, and the South Africans are seeking control." Next day the Prime Minister commented (lead front page in "The Australian") that the South Africans would never get control.

1981 Onwards. Many of her photographs published in books on Aborigines and with her articles.

1982. Consultant, initiator, and Researcher for BBC "Everyman" documentary on Aboriginal spirituality in the diamond rush area. Title is "A Plain and Sacred Right."

As the first journalist to get inside the then secretive Argyle diamond lease, she has a three part series published in "The Age' on the international diamond industry. Many other major features and front page stories on various topics 1982-3.

1983-4. Co-Produced and co-directed television documentary "Munda Nyuringu" with Aboriginal fringe dweller and author Robert Bropho. This was the story of the last great gold rush into Kalgoorlie as seen by Aboriginal people. The film's launch was favorably covered on the main evening news of three major television channels. "The Australian" praises it for its power and authenticity.

This film was Nominated as Best Documentary in the AFI Awards, won a Jury Commendation in Lisbon and was exhibited in several major international festivals. It received film of the week front-page treatment in Television supplement of "Sydney Morning Herald" as "easily the best of the first Australians Series"

1985-6 writes book "Jack of Cape Grim" - an account from original manuscripts on how a group of 5 Tasmanian Aborigines (including the famed Truganini who was supposed to be the last Tasmanian) fought settlers and three military expeditions on the outskirts of the newly established Melbourne. (This was Jani's contribution to Melbourne's 150th anniversary). Well received. Publishers (Sally Milner of Greenhouse Publications also funded her to develop it as a mini-series script.)

1987 ABC commits to put major resources into producing a three part series written by her on the international diamond cartel. The series is called "The Diamond Empire."

1988. Write and research treatment for the ABC on Daisy Bates - an Irish woman and writer who lived with Aborigines in Central Australia. The research involved driving alone some 3,400 kilometers across the deserts, camping on sheep stations or with Aborigines, tracing from Daisy's accounts and by using Aboriginal guides, places of Aboriginal ceremonies and traditions, learning much from Aborigines.

1988. The ABC send Jan to the National Investigative Journalists Conference in Minneapolis, USA. Commenced scripting research for the diamond series. Sign contract for series with ABC as the Producer of the Series. Research in 1989 takes her to Northern Australia, Russia, Japan, Israel, Switzerland, Belgium, the UK and to the USA where WGBH "Frontline" pre-purchase USA rights immediately on seeing the script.

1990 the BBC commits to the Series three days after reading the script. While waiting for Australian contracts to be signed, Panorama sends Jan to Moscow because she has unique access to a meeting of western intelligence operatives and the KGB.

1991 BBC Enterprises commits to international marketing of Diamond Series. Australian funders Film Finance Corporation, Film Victoria and AFC join funding consortium.

She writes some of the first major front page articles on the arming of Iraq by the White House. Helps initiate US television program on the same subject which brings about an Congressional investigation. She assists with the unmasking of the Foreign editor of the Daily Mirror as an arms-merchant for the Evening Standard, London.

November 1991. Pre-production commences of "The Diamond Empire". Estimated delivery time January 1994. It is shoot in five continents and is transmitted in the UK and USA in 1984.

This is one of the highest profile investigative series ever committed to by the BBC. It is pre-sold to American, Swedish, Dutch and Australian Television. 1994. De Beers tries to ban her film from being shown in the diamond rush area of Arctic Canada. Their heavy handed action leads to the Federation of Trade Unions, the local environmental movement, Ecology North and the Dene Indians inviting her to speak to her film. She is flown to Yellowknife. Her film is put on in the largest hall in town and it is standing room only. Later she is the guest of Dene Indians (See the article on this web site on Frozen diamonds).

1994 and 1995. She goes to South Africa and Namibia to research her diamond book. She tours diamond mines despite De Beers banning her, staying in black and colored townships as a guest of the Mineworker's Union. She shows her film on De Beers property to the miners. The Union told her she is the first person banned by De Beers since the Emergency of 1988!

1995 The World Council of Churches agreed to her request to help fund the first post apartheid miners' conference for Southern Africa. She was a guest key note speaker. At this conference held in Namibia. While in Namibia she also helped make a two part series on Namibia's diamonds broadcast on Namibian TV. As she highlights that a key advisor to the president is a diamond merchant previously involved in African anti-democratic coups (well known as a companion of Jackie Onassis Kennedy) an American agent warns her that her every word is being reported to Washington. The World Council of Churches also gives seed money to help towards the setting up of a Center for Economic Reform in South Africa.

More recently she has been been writing on health issues for a major UK newspaper looking particularly at suspected vaccine damage - with several front page stories. (These also caused a parliamentary debate) Also been writing about the threats faced by the Dene Indians in Northern Canada from diamond mining, about cyanide spills in the rainforest - and the threats posed by mining practices in West Papua where lives a sister people to Australia's Aborigines.

Most recent project was on a contaminant that got into the polio vaccine through the ill-advised and unnecessary practice in the US and the UK of growing the polio vaccine in the extracted kidneys of wild-caught monkeys. This has led to monkey viruses being injected into hundreds of millions of people. This fact is now acknowledged by the US and UK governments. What they are being coy about is the recent work of many scientists that links one of these monkey viruses, SV40, with severe human chromosome damage and several human cancers. Work included co-producing a documentary on this for Channel 4, transmitted in the UK in December 1997.