US Enforces Law Barring Myanmar Gems
The United States began strict enforcment on Monday Oct 26th a law seeking to tighten an import ban on gems from military-ruled Myanmar (Burma) in a bid to deprive the junta of precious revenue. The Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act was approved unanimously by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush in July but the US Customs and Border Protection provided a grace period for the jewelry industry to adapt to the new rules. The period expired on Sunday Oct 25th and the authorities on Monday the 26th began enforcing the law that aims to keep Myanmar's rubies and jade from entering US markets, even as rough or via third-party countries, officials said.
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"After the grace period expired on Oct 26, 2008, CBP (Customs and Border Protection) will begin enforced compliance," the agency's spokesman, Jaime Castillo, said. Despite a longstanding ban on all Myanmar (Burma) imports, gems from the impoverished country have entered the United States via third nations such as Thailand, China, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore continually even after the intial ban of direct import was started. The new law closes this loophole that allowed into the United States Burma Ruby and Jade gems cut or polished in a third countries, officials said. The gems trade is one of the most lucrative sources of profit for the military rulers, accused of blatant human rights abuses and stifling democratic opposition. New York-based Human Rights Watch called on US consumers to refuse buying from jewelers unless they ensured their gems were not from Myanmar, previously known as Burma. "For years many American jewelry retailers have bought Burmese rubies and jade that help finance the military junta's brutality," said Arvind Ganesan, the group's director of the business and human rights program. "Now it is illegal to support that trade." In addition to the import ban, the US Treasury Department has put in place targeted sanctions on a number of Myanmar companies involved in the gem business.
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Even the Jewelry Networks like JTV, have announced the information about this stricter ban and how it has effected and almost stopped the sale of Burma Ruby in this country. According to some sources, you must be able to prove Maynmar (Burma) material was purchased before July 2008, or you can be fined or arrested if found in possession.
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This is a consolidated reprint of several news articles on this subject from major newspapers and jewelry publications.
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