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Congress asked to revisit Burmese ruby ban

By Teresa Novellino
June 01, 2009
A number of jewelry industry organizations are urging Congress to consider lifting the U.S. ban on rubies imported from Myanmar, such as those pictured here.

Las Vegas--The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) and several other jewelry organizations worldwide have united to urge Congress to consider lifting the U.S. ban on rubies imported from Myanmar.

The embargo on the import of Burmese rubies and jadeite to the United States went into effect in September 2008 as part of the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2008. The act, initiated by the late U.S. Representative Lantos and ultimately signed into law by former President Bush, was designed to cut off funds to Myanmar's military junta--rulers who have received U.S. government condemnation for human rights abuses, including violent crackdowns against peaceful dissenters.

"We're asking Congress to re-address this issue," AGTA President Doug Hucker said during an educational seminar at the JCK Las Vegas show on Friday afternoon. "We feel that this [embargo] is not going to achieve the expected goals."

Signing onto a letter sent to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are the following organizations: Canadian Jewellers Association, Hong Kong Jewelry Manufacturers' Association, Indian Diamond and Colorstone Association, International Colored Gemstone Association, New York Gem Dealers Association and the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association.

In the letter to Clinton, the groups say that they condemn the human rights abuses of the junta, but do not think the JADE Act will achieve the intended economic sanctions on the government. Rather than reduce the coffers of the military government, the crackdown has hurt poor people in Myanmar, many of whom are not only miners but leaders in resisting the junta, Hucker said.

"Artisinal mining communities in Burma are being hurt by these actions," Hucker said.

The groups estimate that tens of thousands of Burmese small-scale artisinal miners in rural areas of the country, where rubies have been a key part of the economy, have been impacted by the sanctions.

Also hurt are jewelry manufacturers in China, Hong Kong, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, where the rubies were cut and made into jewelry before the act went into effect.

Meanwhile, most of the jadeite that is sold through state-controlled auctions in Myanmar goes to the Chinese markets, which purchase it for their own consumption.

Hucker said those who are interested in sending a letter of their own, but who need assistance in finding out which local Congress members to write to, can send an e-mail to him at doug@agta.org.

For as long as the ban remains in place, however, Hucker said jewelers should be prepared for questions about Burmese rubies from their customers and be ready to assure them that the gemstones they are selling follow the letter of the law.

"Get a warranty in some shape or form [from suppliers] that these are rubies from somewhere else, such as Tanzania or Madagascar, or a guarantee that they are not subject to the [JADE] Act because they were imported before September 2008," he said.
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