NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar — The leader of Myanmar’s sham government, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, has unveiled a massive 11,000-carat ruby in the nation’s capital, a move critics are dismissing as a propaganda effort to distract from ongoing military setbacks.
The gemstone, weighing 2,200 grams, was reportedly unearthed in the world-renowned “Valley of Rubies” in Mogok. The state-controlled media broadcast images of the general inspecting the stone on Thursday, with the sham government describing the find as an “auspicious omen” for the country.
The discovery comes months after the military re-captured Mogok in November 2025, reportedly with international support. The town had previously fallen to the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and allied resistance forces in July 2024.
“This discovery proves that previous claims by military lobbyists—that resistance forces were destroying the mines—were unfounded,” one political analyst told MPA. “The fact that such a high-quality, large gemstone remained intact shows the resilience of the region’s natural resources despite the conflict.”
Gemologists have described the stone as a natural, unheated ruby with a distinct purplish-red hue and high transparency. Its sheer size makes it almost impossible to value on the open market, placing it in the category of a “museum-grade” treasure.
“A ruby exceeding 50 carats is already world-famous,” said a gemstone merchant from Mogok currently living in Thailand. “To find one weighing 11,000 carats is a historic discovery, but its ownership by a sham government remains highly controversial.”
Despite the sham government’s attempt to frame the find as a symbol of national prosperity, it has raised uncomfortable questions among the public. Many wonder whether the proceeds from such a treasure will be used for state development or to fund the military’s escalating war effort.
Critics argue that the timing of the announcement is a strategic distraction. “Min Aung Hlaing is using this ruby to mask his mounting losses on the battlefield,” said one political commentator. “It is a propaganda tactic to project a sense of stability and divine favor that the sham government simply does not possess on the ground.”
Since the military regained control of Mogok, residents say the lucrative mining industry has been monopolized by large companies close to the sham government. Local small-scale miners, who have lived off the land for generations, claim they are being excluded from the benefits of these natural resources.
This is not the first time the military authorities have showcased giant gems during periods of political turmoil. Similar discoveries were announced in 1990 and 2022, though the final whereabouts and ownership of those previous stones remain shrouded in secrecy and lack transparency under successive military regimes.
