Cash-strapped Myanmar auctions its gems
The 45th annual Myanmar Gems Emporium is underway at Yangon, Myanmar’s biggest city, since March 9, 2008. More than 7,700 lots of precious stones are up for grabs at the 12-day sale which began last Sunday, Hit by Western economic sanctions over its slow pace of democratic reforms and the deadly crackdown on protests, such gem sales bring in the much-needed foreign currency for the nation. The junta has been holding them with increasing frequency and the last auction was in January.
Image: A Chinese merchant rests beside a jade stone, with a price tag of Euro 2.2 million ($ 3.42 million) on display at the 45th Annual Gems Emporium.
Images: AP
blog comments powered by Disqus