The International Campaign for the Rohingya (ICR) is collecting signatures for a petition calling on Italian jeweler Bulgari to stop buying “genocide gems” from Myanmar.
“We are writing to express our concern with Bulgari’s use of Burmese gems in its collections, in light of the recent attacks on Rohingya communities by the Burmese army, which is deeply involved in the extraction and trade of gems in Myanmar,” the petition reads.
Myanmar’s military operations in northern Rakhine State have displaced more than 626,000 Rohingya Muslims from the country since August 25, most of them ending up in what is now the world’s largest refugee camp in Bangladesh.
At least 6,700 Rohingya civilians were killed in just the first month of these operations, according to Doctors Without Borders.
ICR’s petition is part of its larger “No Business With Genocide” campaign, which seeks to pressure corporations to refrain or withdraw from doing business with regimes that engage in genocide or crimes against humanity.
The petition goes on: “Myanmar produces more than 90 percent of the world’s rubies and jade, and these stones command the highest prices on the international market. The military dominates the gemstone industry in Myanmar. Its extensive commercial interests in gemstone extraction and trade mean that the military stands to profit when high-end jewelry retailers use Burmese gems in their collections.”
In 2007, Bulgari joined competitors Tiffany & Co. and Cartier in boycotting Myanmar gems in response to public pressure and US sanctions. However, when sanction on Myanmar gems were lifted in 2016, Cartier and Bulgari began buying them again.
Then, on Dec. 6, Cartier responded to public pressure by announcing that it would again stop buying gems from Myanmar. According to ICR, this highlights the importance of “citizen sanctions” in sending a message to the Myanmar military.
“We commend Bulgari’s commitment to responsible business practices and the ethical sourcing of gems. However, we believe that effectuating this commitment requires avoiding the purchase of any gems mined in Myanmar that provide profits to the Burmese military,” the petition reads.
