The regime strictly controls Burma’s jade and gem sector. State-owned enterprises, including Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd. (MEHL) and Myanmar Gems Enterprise, control the production of Burma’s gem and jade mines and the sale of any extracted products. (Carl-Yoder, 2008) Not only does this enable the military and state officials to monitor the activities of various businesses in the private sector, it also establishes a means by which officials can control who has access to certain geographical locations in the country and who is able to participate in specific aspects of the economy. This is crucial when controlling industries like the jade and gem trade—both of which are linked to gross human rights abuses, as keeping a close watch on who is involved allows the military to protect itself from international scrutiny and domestic outcry. Burma’s jade and gem mines have a longstanding record of deaths related to inhumane conditions and inadequate attention to the health and safety of workers. Moreover, a Time magazine article entitled “Battling for Blood Jade” by Hannah Beech (2019) explains that the jade industry exemplifies the limits of democracy in Burma: Most stones are smuggled over the border to neighboring China; only a fraction are subject to the tax needed to fill government coffers in one of Asia’s poorest countries. The scale of graft and unaccountability is such that Global Witness calls Myanmar’s jade economy the “biggest naturalresource heist in modern history.” Considering UMEHL’s business connection to China’s state-owned Wanbao, it is not surprising that over 95% of Burma jade is exported to China or Hong Kong. Burmese government pressure on local mines to drive up production to meet China’s demands further reflects the close economic ties between UMEHL and high-ranking government and Tatmadaw officials (Carl-Yoder, 2008). Many of Burma’s gemstone mines are in Kachin State in the northernmost part of the country. By maintaining control of the 48