President Barack Obama has renewed sanctions aimed at the military junta that rules Myanmar, continuing the ongoing ban on the importation of jade and rubies into the United States.

Congress reauthorized the sanctions on July 22nd and the president signed the bill into law on Tuesday. Trade organization American Gem Trade Association, the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) and several other jewelry organizations had united earlier this summer to urge Congress to consider lifting the U.S. ban on rubies imported from Myanmar but they were unsuccessful in their bid.

The JADE ban, which began in 2003, was tightened further as part of the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2008, which extended the ban to include a prohibition on stones processed in third-party nations, such as Thailand and china closing a considerable loophole in the original legislation.

The coalition of jewelry groups had communicated with the state department in stating that they condemn the human rights abuses of the junta, but do not believe the JADE Act will achieve the intended economic effects on the military vregime. THey argued that the crackdown has hurt poor people in Myanmar, many of whom are artisinal miners as well as a part of the resistance and pro-democracy movement. Burma is a key mining source of valuable rubies and jadeite for the jewelry trade.

U.S. lawmakers and public are concerned about the human rights abuses perpetrated by the military junta currently in control of Burma as well as the detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The 64-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate is detained and being tried on charges that she violated the terms of her house arrest.

Profile Page
News Page