Pros: How labor-intensive is alluvial diamond mining?

IS: It’s very labor intensive, and moreso if the diamonds are further below the surface.

Pros: Back to Paynesville: why were you skeptical that there were diamonds at this site.

IS: It had been reported as a diamond rush, but when there’s a diamond rush, you see thousands of people coming to the site.  Smillie recounts a story from his time in Koidu when thousands converged during a diamond rush.

Pros: Now that Sierra Leone is at peace, do you know how many diamond miners are working now?

IS: The government of SL estimates that there are 120,000 artisinal diamond miners.

Pros: Back to your meeting with Taylor, did you ask him about Sanjivan Ruprah?

IS: Yes, but Taylor said he didn’t know him.  Ruprah was a senior official in Liberia’s air registry.  He traveled under a Liberian passport.

Pros: Was the accused asked about Mr. Minin?

IS: He said Minin was trying to sell an aircraft as a presidential jet.  He had taken some flights on it in the region, but the plane was too expensive.

Pros: Was there any discussion of whether there would be justice for crimes related to atrocities in Sierra Leone?

IS: Taylor raised the issue, we didn’t.  He said that if there were trials, they would dissuade armed and dangerous men from laying down their arms.

The prosecution is introducing a document.

Pros: Do you recognize this as a UN Security Council document from March 7, 2001 following receipt of your report?

IS: Yes.  The panel was also present when the report was discussed in the Security Council.

Witness has been asked to read a passage from the Security Council report that expresses deep concern about the government of Liberia supporting the RUF at all levels, and the flow of diamonds from Sierra Leone through  Liberia.  The witness confirms that this view of the Security Council reflected and still reflects his view.