By The New York Times

Farai Maguwu, who leads the Center for Research and Development in Mutare, the leading civic group investigating human rights abuses in the Marange diamond fields, turned himself in to the police on Thursday and was charged with providing false information to Abbey Chikane, the Kimberley Process monitor appointed to ensure that the diamonds mined there are not being sold illicitly to fuel conflict. Mr. Maguwu met with Mr. Chikane on May 25. Since then, Mr. Maguwu’s brother has been picked up for questioning, and his cousin has been arrested and charged with obstructing justice. “This is a message to civil society that there’s a price for fighting for your rights — no one is safe,” said Mr. Maguwu’s lawyer, Tinoziva Bere.

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