Myanmar: ‘Genocide Gems’: Highly-Sought Burmese Rubies and Sapphires May Be Enriching Myanmar’s Military

Nov 4, 2018 | Josh K. Elliott, Global News
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The U.S.-based International Campaign for the Rohingya (ICR) is calling for shoppers to boycott so-called “genocide gems” from Myanmar this holiday season, in hopes of punishing the military regime that killed thousands of ethnic Rohingya people last year. The regime has a major stake in the gemstone trade through its two large holding companies, which help Myanmar produce approximately 90 per cent of the world’s high-end rubies, along with some of its priciest sapphires. Myanmar also produces massive quantities of jade for China.