National department store, John Lewis Partnership, has informed Burma Campaign UK that it will cease gem sourcing from Burma.
Burma Campaign UK had written to John Lewis, along with approximately 40 other retailers, asking them to ensure that – if they sell gems from Burma – they make sure that their sourced gemstones have not contributed to or helped fund the Burmese military.
In an email received by Burma Campaign UK on 25 July 2023, John Lewis stated: “We remain extremely concerned to learn of developments around the conflicts that have taken place, and that continues to take place in recent years in Burma/Myanmar.
“Our suppliers source a very small proportion of gems from Burma/Myanmar but we are in the process of urgently seeking alternative sources of supply.”
The decision, and subsequent statement, made by John Lewis Partnership follows TJC – one of the biggest TV shopping channels and online jewellery retailers in the UK – telling Burma Campaign UK that it was withdrawing Burmese gems from sale across its platforms and channels.
Following the attempted military coup, which began in February 2021, the Burmese military now dominates Burma’s gem industry, which has an estimated potential value of $2b (£1.5b) per year.
The Burmese military extracts revenue from the gem industry in numerous ways: through its own private companies; control of the state-owned enterprises and government ministries; control of trade routes into areas not under its control; both legal and illegal trade; and the business interests of military family members.
Burma Campaign UK is not calling for a blanket ban on Burmese gems, but is drawing attention to the ways in which gems are sourced.
The London-based non-governmental organisation is calling on companies to make sure that the gems these businesses sell have not been sourced in a way that provides money to the military – helping pay for weapons and the human rights violations that have been, and continue to be, committed by the Burmese military.
Director of Burma Campaign UK, Mark Farmaner said: “John Lewis have done the right thing by deciding to stop sourcing from Burma.
“Retailers must ensure that the gems they sell haven’t helped pay for the bombs and the bullets the Burmese military are using against the people of Burma.”
