VII. Continuing Abuses by the Military in Marange The scale of brutality and ruthlessness displayed by the military during Operation Hakudzokwi resulted in thousands of miners leaving Marange. By mid-November 2008, Marange diamond fields had come under tight control of the military. After the Chiadzwa killings, the army did not leave; instead, as of June 2009, the army continues to occupy the area. Different army units are rotated in turn into Marange, with about 600 soldiers based in the area at any given time. There is virtually no access to the Marange diamond fields for those without military or ZANU-PF connections at the very top level.110 Illegal diamond trading has not stopped; it continues to flourish, now with the military largely in control. Similarly, human rights violations are also continuing, as children and adults endure forced labor for military-controlled mining syndicates and soldiers continue to torture and beat villagers, accusing them of either being or supporting illegal miners who are not in military syndicates. Mining Syndicates and Forced Labor In late November and December 2008, the soldiers quickly revived the system of syndicates, setting up their own, often forcing villagers and miners to join them. A middleman acting for a principal based in South Africa told Human Rights Watch that he continues to buy Marange diamonds, but now he buys from soldiers.111 A local miner told Human Rights Watch how he and four others became part of a syndicate run by soldiers who violently defrauded the miners: On December 10, 2008, we were arrested by two armed soldiers when we attempted to sneak into the diamond fields to dig. The soldiers said, “You need not run away from us; we need to discuss business with you. Tell us how and where to find diamonds and we can share equally with you whatever we find.” That is how our syndicate with the two soldiers was formed and before long it had 23 local miners. 110 Human Rights Watch interviews with headman P.M., local councillor B.K., and police officer L.D., Marange, February 20, 2009. 111 Human Rights Watch interview with middleman V.C., Mutare, February 6, 2009. 37 Human Rights Watch | June 2009