Activists have urged US retail giants Amazon, Walmart and Overstock to ban sales of gems from Myanmar on their sites after an Indian jewelry company removed all online listings that included the precious stones, which are a key source of funds for the junta.
Vaibhav Global Limited announced the move on Thursday after Justice For Myanmar (JFM) published an investigation revealing the company was selling the gems on popular online platforms based in the US.
“VGL takes such statements seriously and is investigating,” the company said on Twitter. “Interim, all listings which include Myanmar gems have been removed from VGL and partner websites.”
Yadanar Maung, JFM’s spokesperson, praised the move and urged US companies to follow suit. “We welcome Vaibhav Global’s swift action to suspend sales of Myanmar gems while they conduct an investigation,” she said. “This investigation should be independent, transparent and involve consultation with the National Unity Government and Myanmar civil society.”
She noted that while Vaibhav Global had withdrawn its listings from the sites of major US retailers, other companies were still selling Myanmar gems on their platforms.
“This should also be a wake-up call to ecommerce giants Amazon, Overstock and Walmart,” she said, adding that the companies “must take action to end their involvement in this trade that finances the Myanmar military’s atrocities.”
While the US has introduced sanctions against the junta-controlled Myanma Gems Enterprise, it has yet to ban the import of gems from Myanmar. Such a ban is included in the Burma Act 2021, which is now before Congress.
“Justice For Myanmar urges members of Congress to stand with the people of Myanmar by passing the Burma Act as soon as possible and prohibit imports of Myanmar gemstones,” Yadanar Maung said.
Myanmar’s gemstone export business depends mainly on exhibitions that generate large sums of money for the junta through taxes, said a local business owner who wanted to remain anonymous.
After the US and the UK sanctioned Myanmar’s generals, the military has started to depend more on China and other Asian markets for gems sales, with India being seen as a key country, he said.
“India is very interested in the gemstones as well as jade, so they usually attend the official gemstone exhibitions,” he added.
One such exhibition in 2019 generated over €439 million in revenues, according to the Myanma Gems Enterprise.
The military council is planning to hold another exhibition in Naypyitaw in December, industry insiders told Myanmar Now.
