Burma army takes control of huge jade piece in Hpakant

A jade stone from Hpakant, Kachin state in northern Burma.

Military troops in the jade rich Hpakant region of Kachin state moved in to take control of a giant jade boulder in the western part of Kachin state. The boulder has been estimated to weigh as much as 50 tons, depending on the quality of the jade found inside it could be worth tens of millions of dollars. The boulder remains semi submerged so it is still unclear exactly how big it is.

Kachin state's chief minister La John Ngan Sai (also Lajawn Ngan Seng) told the American news agency Associated Press (AP) that the jade boulder is now "being guarded by soldiers," before adding that after its dug up "We'll decide what to do with it."

Despite his claim it remains unclear however if La John Ngan Sai will have any say in what happens to the boulder, many Kachin including those who are on friendly terms with La John Ngan Sai view the former businessman as a powerless puppet of President Thein Sein.

AP quoted a man described as “a church official with ties to” the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), as saying that the government and the rebel group were in talks to determine the fate of the giant jade find. Dwut Lar (or Dut La) told AP that the KIO was offered 10% of the boulder's yet to be determined value.

According to Dwut Lar the KIO rejected this offer because it was too low.