JA Seeks Import Ban on Burmese Gemstones

Jewelers of America (JA), is asking the U.S. Congress to amend the Burmese Freedom & Democracy Act of 2003, which bans the importation of products from Burma, so that it includes gemstones mined in that country.

If the amendment accepted, JA wants it to remain effective until Burma agrees to the democratic reforms proposed in January 2007 to the United Nations Security Council.

The resolution, which did not pass, called for national reconciliation and democratization in Burma, the release of all political prisoners, an end to human-rights abuses in the country, and the inclusion of opposition and ethnic minorities in dialogue leading to a genuine democratic transition.

The organization, representing 11,000 member stores in the U.S., said it is informing its members about the situation in Burma, advising them “to source their gemstones in a manner that respects human rights,” says JA President and CEO Matthew A. Runci.

“JA members believe it is their responsibility to support and respect the protection of international human rights within their sphere of influence and to make sure the sourcing of gemstones is not complicit in human rights abuses,” Runci added.

Some of the steps JA has asked its members to take include contacting their suppliers to ascertain whether any of the gems they supply are from Burma and seek written assurances from their suppliers that they will not knowingly supply any gems mined in Burma, until the process of democratic reform has started in that country.