SBS Dateline | Deadly Diamonds

Shocking evidence has emerged of human rights abuses carried out at the hands of Robert Mugabe's security forces.

Hundreds of miners were gunned down by helicopter gunships as the military seized control of a lucrative diamond field, according to a recent Human Rights Watch report. Many of those who weren't killed have been arrested, caged, raped and beaten.

This week on Dateline Ginny Stein travels to Zimbabwe to investigate. She speaks with survivors who recount horrific tales of the massacre, and sees first hand the trade in illegal diamonds.

While the government denies that the massacre and human rights abuses ever took place, hospital and burial records tell another story.

There are now growing calls for Zimbabwe's government to be held to account, and next month the Kimberley Process - the international body charged with stopping the trade in conflict diamonds - will decide whether to suspend Zimbabwe's right to export diamonds.

But the Kimberley Process appears hopelessly split on the issue, and now there are allegations emerging that Australian diplomats have been lobbying to save Zimbabwe from suspension.

Find out more this Sunday, 8:30pm on SBS ONE.

On air: 11th October 2009