Myanmar, also known as Burma, is the world's biggest source of jade, but its mines have seen ... forcing those looking for fragments of the semi-precious stone to labour in hazardous conditions.

The stone of heaven, as it is known in China, is also fueling civil war between the Burmese military and ethnic Kachin guerrillas seeking self-rule. Jade comes in many hues, from the shade of a ...

Companies linked to the Myanmar military ... When Si Thu finds a large jade stone, the mining company or the armed groups take a cut, or both. Or in some cases they just seize the stone, he ...

Myanmar's Kachin State is believed to hold up to 90% of the world's most valuable jade. Demand for it is growing in China, where the stone is considered sacred. But hunting for it is one of the ...