Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2009 15:50:08 -0600
From: dnrock@rock.com
Subject: Jason Adonis 8

Jason Adonis
by:  dnrock(dnrock@rock.com)


8: One For All, All for One

"Why all the cloak and dagger stuff, Jason," Geoff asked?

"Willhem, the PPI staff, Interlope and others, believe we will be in great
physical danger, as of 8:30 am."

"Is this related to 9/11 and all that."  Stan inquired?"

"Only indirectly, when I tell you what I am going to say at the press
conference it will be much clearer.  You know the family has owned and
operated the oldest diamond cutting and trading house in Amsterdam, since
the beginning.  We have made, over the years, a number of public statements
about conflict diamonds; most notable being, we will not knowingly trade in
them.  I have found out that the company managers do knowingly trade in
them, that they have not only been paying themselves excessive salaries but
they have been buying blood diamonds on the side and reselling them, as
certified clean diamonds to the company and pocketing the difference.  What
they have been doing is not necessarily illegal but it is unethical.
Moreover, they lied to me repeatedly over the years about how the company
was being run, to justify their overly generous remuneration.  They thought
Junior was not as smart as Senior, and Klass was somehow less than his
brother.  They underestimated us and by association you.

I am going to fire the lot and rehire a few.  I am going to publicly
announce why they are being fired and just how the company is going to
insure, the only diamonds we sell will be clean."

"That all sounds like sound business to me, why are we in any danger,"
Ziggy asked?

"The people who bring these diamonds to the market are not honest or
honorable men and they would kill me and all of you, if they get the
chance.  We will be hurting them by taking away a good part of their
market.  The executives who are being fired will loose face, income and
status.  They will be angry and so on.  The Dutch police don't feel they
can offer us full protection and I don't want to endanger any of our staff
or neighbors.  Best to do the deed and get out of town or lay low for a
while.  I'm not Gary Cooper playing sherif and they are not fictional
gunslingers but cowards and assigns."

"Are you worried that one of us may be kidnapped," Trevor asked?

"Willhem is, I am not.  I'm not because you will not be in a position of
vulnerability.  If any of those creeps gets within a continent of us, they
are `dead meat'.  Willhem is, because that is his job."

"You still have not told us why we are leaving Amsterdam at `High Noon', we
saw that movie you know," Eric interjected.

"If we departed immediately it would be a signal that we are afraid.  We
are not afraid, just prudent.  In addition, the Interlope people feel they
can protect us for a short time and if the `bad guys" act in haste they
will make mistakes tipping their hand.  So we are bate, but just a little
bate."

"I see that you have designed a number of cleaver ruses to through people
off our trail.  False fight plans, false bookings on airlines, hotels and
the like all over the world.  Look Ziggy you are supposed to be going to
Moscow and I'm heading for Australia, Eric on a Caribbean cruse.  This is a
very cleaver plan.  Have you been reading John Le Carre novels Jason," Will
asked?

"I have read a few but the PPI people did most of this detailed stuff."

"Why don't we just go back to Switzerland," Ziggy asked?

"It is too close to the Netherlands and besides you are only interested in
seeing Fräulein Heit again, admit it," Trevor commented.  Ziggy blushed.
...............

I was surprised to see my bothers all dressed and ready to accompany me to
the news conference.  I was about to object but Klass gave me that, `it
will be of no use,' look.  They all wore the blazers and ties purchased for
the reception.  I quickly retreated to my room and got mine.  We did look
impressive.

The DNPA and PPI people were all over the place, along with some local
unformed officers.  Van Loon had quietly organized everything on the
company side.  He knew who would be appointed to what positions and who was
being fired or who's resignations were being accepted.  The CEO and two
senior VP's were not ask for letters, they will be fired outright.  My
investigations showed several others had knowledge but did nothing about
it.  I accepted their resignations, having no wish to be punitive.  This
was to come as a surprise, part of my slightly vindictive plan.  Klass and
I just don't like to be lied to and that point was going to be made in
spades.  Another one of Klass' little expressions.

Van Loon also made sure the press conference was shown on the company's
closed circuit TV, I wanted all the staff to know, up front, just what was
happening and why.  We are a family run business and they are family too.

I sat in the center of a long table with three brothers on each side and
Klass on the far left.  The company people sat in the front row, the former
CEO in the center, a Senior VP on each side, other managers and staff
strung out along either side.  About 50 news outlets responded to our
announcement.  Herman had to force a bit of cooperation between the camera
men, due to lack of space, some sharing of video and still pictures was
just going to be required.

Klass and Ziggy lead us in and we took our seats.  I stood at the mini
podium and called the meeting to order, as it were.

"Good morning and thank you for coming on such short notice.  I promised in
our invitation that today's announcements were important and would have
industry wide implications.  You will not be disappointed.  My brothers
will now distribute envelopes that contain copies of my prepared remarks,
translated into five languages.  I will deliver those remarks in English, I
will take questions in English, French, German or Dutch.  To keep order and
I can assure you, order will be needed, once you have heard what I have to
say; I will ask you to report to a microphone, their are five and I will
rotate among them.

I am Jason Adonis Junior.  The last press conference, four years ago, the
Adonis family gave was shortly after the untimely death of Jason Senior and
our mother.  At that time my Uncle Klass and I delivered a eulogy to them.
At that time Mr. du Bois, CEO of Adonis Diamonds said, and I quote, "The
company wants the world to know that Jason Adonis' tireless efforts to rid
the world of conflict diamonds will continue and Adonis Diamonds will never
knowingly buy, cut or set a blood diamond."  That statement gentlemen was a
bold faced lie.  Mr. du Bois lied to you and the world, he has consistently
lied to the Adonis Family about conflict diamonds and the companies part in
that trade."  I held up a thick book.

"This book documents those lies and a number of other lies, and if not
frauds, at least unethical activities of this man and his two assistants."
Du Boise rose to leave but Herman and several other PPI men moved to stop
them.  "Just sit down gentlemen and take this like the men you have always
propertied to be."  By now everyone was opening their packages, including
du Boise.  "Mr. du Boise and Misters, Winkler and Somerville are as of this
moment, fired.  We will not be lied to," pointing to my brothers and
Klass," and the Adonis and Henderson names will not be besmirched, by yours
or anyone else's deeds.  My evidence is strong, complete and absolute.  It
shows exactly how this scam worked, how many carats of conflict or suspect
diamonds were purchased, from who, when and for how much.  It is supported
by witness statements and hard copy evidence.  Copies of the evidence book
are being delivered to the Dutch National Police at this very moment.  What
they do with it is up to them and the legal system.  I have determined that
the only company people culpable in this matter are these three.  I know
that our staff, especially the cutters and polishers, setters and designers
must feel as betrayed as my brothers, uncle and myself.  I apologize to
them for taking this long to expose the scam, which had begun shortly
before our parents were killed.  It is now time to move on and do something
about this situation.

Yesterday afternoon, I sought the resignations of all company staff above
the level of department head and below CEO and Senior VP.  I refused to
accept them, however three have chosen to take a well deserved retirement,
they are listed in your documentation.  Mr. van Loon is appointed, as of
this moment, the new CEO of Adonis Diamonds.  He will report directly the
company's only shareholder the Adonis Family Trust, whose board of
directors is mostly sitting at this table.  The duties of the others are
outlined in the documentation you have been given.

From the prospective of Adonis Diamonds it is business as usual with one
slight alteration.  From this moment forward we will never buy or sell a
diamond, unless we can certify its origin.  Every diamond above 2 carats
will be tagged with a laser inscribed hallmark.  Smaller stones will be
sold only with a certificate of authenticity.  The certificates of origin
all carry our family name.  We are putting our personal reputations on the
line.

Last week I entered into agreements with several diamond mines, to supply
us with raw stones, for the next two years.  These mines will be our only
supplier of gems for that period.  My staff, in conjunction with the mines
and several other diamond merchants, are preparing a tracking system, that
I am confident, will give us the assurance needed to place our hallmark on
the gems we sell.

An inventory of raw and cut gems, completed yesterday morning, found a
direct and well documented chain of custody, from the mines to our vaults.
I am confident in their provenance.  One of the reasons for this
announcement, on such short notice, relates to a major purchase of tainted
gems by Mr. du Bois and the others, several days ago.  He took personal
delivery of these stones.  By acting quickly we were able to prevent them
from entering our inventory.  Hallmarking of our existing inventory gems,
will begin at noon today.  Technical details relating to hallmarking are
also included in your package.  Not being a gemologist my self, I must tell
you in advance, I am not qualified to answer science and technology related
questions, I hope you don't' have any for me.  When you are finished asking
your questions of us, you are free to fight over these three with the DNP.
This room has been booked for the entire day, you will have all the time
you need.

Microphone number one.

Each reporter stated his or her name and affiliation.  "Mr. Adonis you have
made some very strong statements about Mr. du Bois and the others, aren't
you opening yourself up to legal action?"

"Yes, I called him a liar and accused him of unethical actions, Oh, I did
it again, didn't I.  It is easy for anyone with money to take legal action
but it will be very hard to win.  He lied and buying diamonds on the side
and then selling them to your employer is unethical.  My legal council also
reviewed my remarks."

Microphone 2

"Mr. Adonis you and your brothers are very young to be managing a business
like Adonis Diamonds, are you not?"

"True, I am 25 and my brothers are 16.  We are young and all still
students, but don't forget, our uncle has some gray hair.  We did manage to
expose this situation and take swift and decisive action.  I think du Bois
and the others thought they could bamboozle us, being neophytes.  But he
who laughs last, laughs best.

To underestimate your advisory or someone you are trying to hoodwink is a
fatal error, N'est pas.  On a more serious note, we do not, nor do we
intend, to take an active part in the operations of the company.  We have
every confidence in Mr. van Loon and the others, at every level in the
organization.  They know the diamond business.  We will remain in a policy,
direction and oversight role."

Microphone 3

"The blood or conflict diamond trade is clocked with secretes, how did you
manage to penetrate it?"

"I can't tell you that, but suffice it to say, it is very had to sell
something without letting the buyer know you have the product for sale or
as my grandfather would say `Men kan niet van een lege wagen verkopen.' One
can not sell from an empty wagon."

Microphone 4

"You indicated your evidence names, names.  Are you prepared to make those
names public?"

"I flat out said my evidence names, names.  I gave that evidence to police
and courts, it is up to them what they do with it."

Microphone 5

"Blood diamonds are being trafficked to support, often brutal, civil wars
and is suspected to fund terrorist activities, do you believe your actions
will make a real difference?"

"I don't know how much a difference we will make.  Making a `real'
difference, in complex political dynamics, is difficult to do and difficult
to evaluate.  Jason Senior believed that we should not felicitate this kind
of trade, that it was the right thing to do, we agree with him.  If people
some place wish to struggle for political and economic power, that is their
right.  If they do this by killing others, that's their ignorance.  I am
not a Solomon, I can not solve other peoples problems.  I can, if asked,
felicitate or advise.  We will not be a party to financing the killing of
others.

Our mother was appalled at the number of children that were being killed
and maimed by all sides, financing there activities by selling conflict
diamonds.  The Adonis family simply will not be a party to that."

Microphone 1

"By refusing to be associated in any way with conflict gems, mostly from
third world, African countries, are you not imposing your raciest and
religious views on others?"

"No.  We are not imposing our views on anyone and I do not believe any
Adonis has ever spoken or in any way linked race or religion with our
business or our family.  Your loaded terms are inappropriate, accusatory
and offensive.

What we are saying is, we will only purchase diamonds from verifiable
sources.  The buyer of our products is being given two guarantees.  One,
the normal quality, color, cut and weight classification and Two, an
assurance of gem source.  It is those purchasers who make the choice.  No
one is obligated to purchase gems from us"

"Then you are not trying to put the sellers of conflict diamonds out of
business?"

"Correct, the Adonis family is not trying to put anyone out of business.
We are under no obligation to purchase any gems from anyone, never were,
never will be.  What we are saying is, if you are selling conflict
diamonds, don't bother offering them to us, we are not interested.  If that
has any effect on them doing business, so be it."

Microphone 2

"You are business men Mr. Adonis, if someone offers you diamonds of good
quality, well below market price, you will buy them."

"Those are your words not mine.  My family wishes to make a fair and
reasonable income, we are not greedy or on a power trip.  I told you
before, we will not purchase conflict gems.  What don't you understand
about the word no, nr, nein, non?  Price is not the issue, profit is not
the issue.  The word of the Adonis family is the issue, integrity is the
issue.  The family's word was given in good faith.  That faith was broken.

We called this meeting to set the record straight, apologize for the brake
in faith and demonstrate not only our displeasure but how we intend to make
sure it never happens again.  Just because we are a business, does not give
us reason to break our word or to break our personal moral code.  To my
knowledge no Adonis has ever asked or required that an employee do either.
In fact, the penalty exacted on any employee who fails to keep faith is
hard and sure, as demonstrated today."

Microphone 3

"Getting back to putting people out of business, is it not the goal of
those who campaign against conflict diamond sales, to put the sellers of
them out business and by implication the conflicts they are trying to
finance?"

"That is the goal of some who advocate for this or that cause or purpose.
The Adonis family will not, has never and will never, actively support one
human killing another.  That is our privet moral position.  We would like
to see the trade in conflict gems severely restricted, if that restriction
will reduce the carnage.  Last year for example, more humanitarian aid was
directed at child prostheses than text books, in several West African
countries.  That said, if you or anyone else wants to purchase conflict
gems and you face no legislative restrictions, you are free to do so.  We
believe it is the right of the purchaser to know the origin of our
products.  They have just as much a right not to purchase, as you have to
purchase."

Microphone 4

"Mr. Adonis you own one of the largest banks in Switzerland and that bank
did extensive business with Germany during the second world war, I question
the moral position you seam to be taking, relative to our Moslem brothers
in Africa."

"Again, you words, your assumptions.  And just what would the name of that
bank be?"

"The Credit Swiss National."

"Klass, does the family own or even do business with that bank?"

"No Jason, the family does not own that bank and I don't believe we do any
business with them."

"Klass, please call the office and double check the facts," I said tossing
him my cell phone.  "I'm afraid I can not respond to your question more
definitively, at this time.  We will get you an answer shortly, please
stand by."

Microphone 5

"Some say that conflict diamond sales help to finance terror activities and
the 9/11 attack in New Your, specifically.  They also say that pressure was
applied to purchasers by the terrorists."

"I will not respond to "some say" or "unnamed source" type questions, that
are so far from the topic.  I can say, my investigation found no evidence
of seller pressure or threats against my former staff.  That is not to say
none existed or has been directed at others, just my investigation, which
was extensive but focused, found none.

The Adonis brothers, do not take kindly to threats made against us or our
enterprises and let me assure you and your readers or viewers, it takes one
hell of lot more than any of these `tin pot' demigods have, to frighten us.
The quickest way for these people to be `put out of business' is to mess
with us."

I held up my hand to hold his next question off.  "Klass, you have an
answer?"

"Yes Jason," He said, approaching microphone. "We have no record of ever
having done business with that bank, nor do we hold any shares in it;
however in the 1920's one of the family's UK based companies did have an
employee resign, to take a senior position at CSN.  I would also remind you
that we lost 12 employees in tower 1 on 9-11, four were of the Moslem
faith."

"Thank you Klass.  I hope that answers your question sir?"  Since he did
not respond but sat down, I figured it did.

"Are you issuing a challenge than?"

"Your words not mine.  I am simply stating a fact and that fact is: we are
not intimated by criminals, despots, and terrorists.  We make no threats
and issue no challenges.

Microphone 1

"Can you tell us what other businesses the Adonis Family Trusts operates?'

"I can but I will not.  The Adonis family, as you know, has always been
very privet.  That has not changed and I make no apologies for it.  We do
not seek the public eye, never have and I doubt that will change much in
the future."

"How do we know if all your moralizing is being implemented as you say it
is?"

"The short answer is, you don't.  And frankly, it is none of anyone's
business or concern if our moral and ethical values are being implemented
or not.  I do take exception to the notion that my restating, the family's
position, on conflict diamonds is in any way moralizing.  If you think the
story here is anything other than what I presented, you miss the mark."

None of our other interests are in any way related to diamonds or any other
gems.  Each business unit operates as a completely independent
establishment.  The different units do not even know the others exist as
members or partners of the trust.  Most do not even know they are
ultimately owned by the trust.  With a few exceptions, the executives of
these businesses do not know me and would not recognize our family name, in
a non social context.  Should any of them act in a socially irresponsible
or illegal way, we will be as harsh and as swift as we are today.  People
just won't see the Adonis name attached to the action.

Questions continued for another twenty minutes.

"It is now time for us to leave.  You still have Mr. du Boin et al. to
interview but should make your noon story deadlines.  Again I want to thank
you for coming today.

"One more question please.  Your uncle and brothers all took positions at
the table but none responded or even spoke, why?"

"That is a very good question.  I did not prevent or even suggest that they
remain silent.  Remember, no questions were directed toward them.  My
brothers are sitting at this table as part of Jason's media and interview
techniques course; I did identify them as students.  To be completely
forthright, they chose and insisted on, attending today; reinforcing the
notion that these seven brothers and our uncle, speak as one voice on this
matter."  I smiled and we trouped off, Herman leading the way, Klass
followed up with a video tape of the entire event for Frau van Witt's
edification.

Once in the parking garage all hell broke loose.  The boys could not stop
talking.  It was obvious they had been taking good mental notes.  Klass
returned my cell, congratulating me on a masterful performance.  I was
stressed and looked forward to some hot sex, that's the best way I know of
to relieve tension.

.......................

"No Helga, not today, I don't expect you to just drop everything because I
made a decision.  You and Klass should meet us in Canada, as noted on the
schedule.  That should give you two more than enough time to organize the
household and get your things packed."

"Jason, I've told you a thousand times I do not want to leave Amsterdam."

"You are not leaving Amsterdam you are taking a break from the city, from
the Netherlands for a while, that's all.  I need you, the boys need you and
Klass needs you.  Your grandchildren need their Oma close at hand, not
across an ocean.  You have dependable staff here to look after things and
we will make many return trips.

Ziggy was almost in tears as this point.  "Helga, if you don't come to
Canada than who will make cookies for me?

"The bottom line is, you and Klass are the closest thing, any of these boys
have ever had, to parents, they need you to be with them.  I know Ziggy
spoke of cookies with his words but his eyes said he needs your love."

"You are right Jason, I can not abandon what was so recently found.  I
thought us old women had the guilt trip mastered but you my boy have taken
it to new heights."

"Ah but I learned it all right here in this kitchen."  Helga was silent but
turned around with the cookie jar in her hands, offering some to me.