...Ivanhoe...[brought] to production the US $90 million Monywa copper mine in 1999, by far the largest mining investment by a foreign company in Burmese history -- and a cash cow for the government which retains a 50 per cent interest... But in the wake of the recent violent repression...[executive director Robert Friedland denied that] Ivanhoe Mining Ltd. was still connected to Burma...[and denounced] his former military business partners. "We share the revulsion of right-thinking people everywhere against unwarranted assaults on Buddhist monks and civilians," read a statement...The timing of both departures [by Ivanhoe and by Jet Gold from a joint venture with Leeward Capital & the Burmese Govt.] had more to do with business than ethics... Ivanhoe...is still indirectly profiting from its Burmese assets, despite Friedland's October denunciation... [also refers to Rio Tinto]