Greatgem Documents Disclosure (U.S. Department of State)
| Tracking # |
F-2024-05380 |
| Multi Request | Greatgem Documents Disclosure |
| Submitted | Jan. 18, 2024 |
| Due | Feb. 15, 2024 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Lucas Johnson
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
All memos and emails regarding Greatgem Corporation, incorporated in the Seychelles on July 21, 2010. Please disclose from dates July 21, 2010 through December 31, 2023. I am requesting a 100% FOIA fee waiver based on the following reasons:
1.) There is a high probability that Greatgem Corporation is a shell company established by high ranking officials in the Zimbabwean government, specifically presidential advisor Martin Rushwaya
2.) Greatgem Corporation is used by Zimbabwean presidential advisor Rushwaya and others to hide conflict "blood" diamonds to fund security forces and other off budget financing
3.) Conflict "blood" diamonds are used to fund terrorism, organized crime and cause instability in Africa
4.) US citizens purchases diamonds at high prices, typically for wedding celebrations
5.) US citizens have the right to know information regarding the diamond supply chain
6.) US citizens have the right to know whether their purchase funds terrorism, organized crime and instability
7.) Disclosed information regarding Greatgem will lead to greater understanding by the American public and can utilized by US journalists and US academics for further review and study
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Lucas Johnson
From: U.S. Department of State
Dear Lucas Johnson:
Thank you for filing your information access request to the U.S. Department of State. Your request number is F-2024-05380.
You will receive a formal acknowledgement to your request in no later than 10 working days. If the Department requires additional information from you, then you will also be notified.
Should you have any questions about your request, you may also contact us at:
FOIAStatus@state.gov
Regards,
Requesters Communications Branch
Office of Information Programs and Services
U.S. Department of State
From: U.S. Department of State
Dear Lucas Johnson,
The status of your FOIA request #F-2024-05380 has been updated to the following status 'Received'. To learn more, please log into the DoS FOIA Portal via the Application URL below.
https://pal.foia.state.gov
Regards,
U.S. Department of State
From: U.S. Department of State
*THIS EMAIL BOX IS NOT MONITORED, PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.** Dear Mr.Johnson: This email acknowledges receipt of your January 25, 2024, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. § 552) request received by the U.S. Department of State, Office ofInformation Programs and Services on January 25, 2024. To Whom It May Concern:Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:All memos and emails regarding Greatgem Corporation, incorporated in the Seychelles on July 21, 2010. Please disclose from dates July 21, 2010 through December 31, 2023. (Date Range for Record Search: From 07/21/2010 To 12/31/2023).
You are seeking a copy of Unless you advise otherwise, we will treat as non-responsive anycompilations of publicly available news reports and any publicly availabledocuments not created by the U.S. government, such as mass-distribution emailsfrom news media. This Office assigned your request the subjectreference number and placed it in the complex processing track where it will beprocessed as quickly as possible. See 22 CFR § 171.11(h).
This Office will not be able to respond within the 20 daysprovided by the statute due to “unusual circumstances.” See 5 U.S.C.§ 552(a)(6)(B)(i)-(iii). In this instance, the unusual circumstancesinclude the need to search for and collect requested records from otherDepartment offices or Foreign Service posts. You will not be charged FOIA processingfees.
If you have any questionsregarding your request, would like to narrow the scope or arrange analternative time frame to speed its processing, or would like an estimated dateof completion, please contact our FOIA Requester Service Center or our FOIA PublicLiaison by email at ortelephone at 202-261-8484. Additionally, you may contact the Office ofGovernment Information Services (OGIS) at the National Archives and RecordsAdministration to inquire about the FOIA mediation services they offer. The contact information for OGIS is as follows: Office of GovernmentInformation Services, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601Adelphi Road-OGIS, College Park, Maryland 20740-6001, email at (mailto:FOIAstatus@state.gov) FOIAstatus@state.gov ; telephone at202-741-5770; toll free at 1-877-684-6448; or facsimile at 202-741-5769. (mailto:ogis@nara.gov) ogis@nara.gov
**THIS EMAIL BOX IS NOT MONITORED, PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TOTHIS EMAIL.**
From: U.S. Department of State
Dear Lucas Johnson,
The status of your FOIA request #F-2024-05380 has been updated to the following status 'In Process'. To learn more, please log into the DoS FOIA Portal via the Application URL below.
https://pal.foia.state.gov
Regards,
U.S. Department of State
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