It has been reported that the Burmese Military Government will auction off $300 million worth of Jade, gems and pearls. The Burmese Government will auction off 5,500 lots in total to over 2,000 foreign merchants.

Those attending this auction will be buyers from China and Thailand.

As Burma supply's approximately 90% of the world's rubies, it stands to reason that the purchase and/or sale of any ruby will support the Burmese Military Government.

Solution:

Jewelers selling loose rubies, finished jewelry set with rubies and/or purchasing loose rubies and/or finished jewelry set with rubies should NOT purchase such products (after today's date) from any supplier - foreign or domestic.

Let the industry send a message to the Burmese Government and those who support the purchase and sale of such goods (namely China and Thailand) that jewelers in the United States will NOT support the Burmese Military Government through the sale of rubies.

While top international jewelers have called for a boycott on Burma rubies, there is no way to know if such a boycott would be effective, considering there's no way to know if one is purchasing rubies from the 10% of the world's Blood Free Ruby supply.

The only way to ensure that the industry is NOT supporting this regime is to abstain (completely) from the purchase of loose rubies and/or finished jeweler products set with rubies.