Global Witness

Government Fixes Price for Massive Jade Stone at US$6 Million

November 1, 2016 by thiha

RANGOON — The price of a massive unearthed giant jade stone in Hpakant Township, Kachin State, has now been fixed by the government’s Myanmar Gems Enterprise as worth around 7 billion kyats (around US$6 million). The 210-ton stone was discovered on Oct. 10 at Yadanar Taung Tann Gems Company’s mine, which is operating in a […]

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: Environmental Conservation in Sate Mu village, gems emporium, Global Witness, Hpakant township, Kachin State, london, Mandalay Gems Traders Association, Myanmar Gems Enterprise, natural resources, Naypyidaw, NGO, NLD, Rangoon, U Aung Thein, U Min Thu, Yadanar Taung Tann Gems Company

Meet Mandalay’s jade matriarchs

August 30, 2016 by thiha

It’s the men who haggle at the markets, but Myanmar’s jade industry is run predominantly by women, and they are optimistic about its future despite the moratorium on jade mining Every morning at 9am, the intersection of 86th and 40th streets in Mandalay is awakened by the clanging of jade bangles. Traders and brokers in […]

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: Belgium Star, Daw Myint Myint Aye, Daw Swe Swe Yu, Facing Mandalay Palace, Global Witness, Jewelry, Kachin State, Khin Lay Myint, La Min May, mandalay, Mandalay Jade Market, New Taiwan Dollars, Thazin Pann, Thazin Pann is Belgium Star Gems, U Tin Oo

Mandalay trader petitions for mining halt

August 18, 2016 by thiha

A Mandalay trader is circulating a petition calling for an immediate but temporary halt to jade mining and a revamp of export procedures, warning the Mandalay market could be headed for disaster if business continues as usual. The petition will shortly be submitted to a Regional and Union-level officials, with its main backer hoping it […]

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: Ash Center, China, Environmental Conservation, Gemstone Law, Global Witness, Harvard University, Kachin Independence Army, Kachin State, mandalay, Ministry of Natural Resources, Myanmar Gemstones Law, National League for Democracy, Nay Pyi Taw, NLD, Tatmadaw, The Myanmar Times, U Aung Win Oo

Jade and Redwood Traders Struggle in China

August 17, 2016 by thiha

China’s jade and redwood traders are seeking to diversify their business as domestic demand drops and the Myanmar’s new government tightening its grip over natural resources. “The sales of high-end gemstones have been tepid the last two years,” Kyaw Win Khaing, a Chinese-born Myanmar national who has been selling Myanmar jade in Ruili, Yunnan Province, […]

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: Asia, aung san suu kyi, China, GDP, Global Times, Global Witness, Kyaw Win Khaing, Myanmar National, National League for Democracy, NLD, Ruili, Tengchong, The Myanmar Times, Yingjiang, Yunnan Province

Over-Extraction, Chinese Slowdown Blamed for Jade Price Slump

June 21, 2016 by thiha

RANGOON — With the government’s biannual gem emporium looming at the end of this month, prices for Burmese jade have continued to slide against weakening demand. Industry insiders have blamed an economic slowdown in China, over-extraction in jade mines, and market uncertainty linked to the transition of power to a democratically elected government in Burma. […]

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: Burmese, China, Chinese, Environmental Conservation, Gem Emporium, Global Witness, Hpakant in Kachin State, Kachin Independence Army, Kyaw Kyaw Oo, Ministry of Resources, Myanmar Gems Traders Association, Naypyidaw, President Thein Sein, Rangoon, The Irrawaddy, Tun Hla Aung

Myanmar gem firms say $138m ‘missing’ from industry fund

June 7, 2016 by thiha

YANGON (AFP) – An embezzlement probe has been launched after nearly US$100 million (S$138 million) vanished from a fund set up by Myanmar’s gem companies, a trade body said on Thursday (June 2), raising corruption fears in an industry notorious for its shady dealings. Mining – especially for jade – was firmly in the hands […]

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: AFP, aung san suu kyi, China, GDP, Global Witness, Jewellery, Kachin State, Kyaw Kyaw Oo, Myanmar, Myanmar Gems, Yangon

At least 12 dead in Myanmar jade mine landslide, many feared missing

May 25, 2016 by Thiha

YANGON: A landslide in Myanmar’s northern jade mining region has killed at least 12 people and many more are missing, officials said Tuesday (May 24), the latest deadly accident to hit the shadowy but lucrative industry. The bodies were recovered after a wall of unstable earth collapsed Monday night following heavy rain in the town […]

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: China, Global Witness, Hpakant, jade mine landslide, Myanmar Jade, Nilar Myint, victims

In Burma’s wildest corner, jade, drugs and rebels will test the new government

April 12, 2016 by thiha

MYITKYINA, Burma — The jade tycoon of Burma lives behind stone walls and a sophisticated security system. A visitor must be buzzed through a gate into the garden, pass a hunk of jade as big as a compact refrigerator, enter through a sliding screen and glide by the preserved tusks of the family elephant before sitting […]

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: Asia, aung san suu kyi, Burma, China, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin, Christian, Extra Fortunate Jade Mountain Family, Global Witness, Himalayas, Human Rights Watch, Ja Seng Hkwan, Jadeland Myanmar Group, Kachin Independence Army, Myitkyina, Myitsone Dam, National League for Democracy into power, Naw Khan, Steven Tsa Ji, the United States, Yup Zau Hkawng

Senior officials implicated in Myanmar jade probe: official

March 7, 2016 by thiha

Two senior Myanmar officials were purged from their posts this week after an investigation over corruption in the country’s multi-billion-dollar jade mining industry, authorities said Friday. Yangon – Two senior Myanmar officials were purged from their posts this week after an investigation over corruption in the country’s multi-billion-dollar jade mining industry, authorities said Friday. The […]

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: aung san suu kyi, China, Global Witness, Hpakant, Kachin, Myanmar, Yangon, Zaw Htay

Jade Trade: Official Export Earnings Down for 2015

February 23, 2016 by thiha

RANGOON — Revenue derived from Burma’s official jade exports declined in the first nine months of the 2015-16 fiscal year, as the lucrative industry continues to draw fire over safety, ethical and environmental concerns. According to figures from the Ministry of Commerce, US$567 million in revenue was derived from jade exports from April to December […]