Oppenheimer Concerned about Conflict Diamond Movie

Jonathan Oppenheimer, head of De Beers’s South African operations, has reacted with concern to a movie portraying illegal diamond dealing in Sierra Leone.

Mineweb.net reported Oppenheimer comments that the movie could damage the lucrative Christmas sales if not handled properly. “Can you imagine its impact on the Christmas-buying audience in America if the message is not carried through that this is something of the past,” says Oppenheimer, “That this is something that has been managed and taken care of.”

The storyline of the film, titled Blood Diamond is, “A farmer, a smuggler, and a syndicate of businessmen match wits over the possession of a priceless diamond.” The movie, starring Leonardo Di Caprio, is set for release in late 2006, according to the Internet Movie Data Base (IMDB.com).