Back in May 2009, two former Canadian goverment officials joined one of the country’s most notorious mining companies in order to boost its fortunes in Mongolia and elsewhere. One of these was a former chief of staff for ex-Canadian Prime Minster, Jean Chretien. See: http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=9235
Now, Chretien himself has contracted to serve the interests of Ivanhoe Mines and its primo genitor, Robert Friedland.
Perhaps this would not be so contentious if Ivanhoe were simply intent on getting final permission to open Mongolia’s huge Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine. Following a recent session in Mongolia’s parliament, that project now seems considerably closer to fruition.
However, recent disclosures by Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB) show that Ivanhoe continues to profit from its copper mining in Burma, despite widespread public revulsion at the regime’s continued oppression, and sanctions imposed by the US government. See: http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=9046
In late 2006, Rio Tinto secured a crucial arrangement with Ivanhoe, under which the UK company gained an initial 9.95% stake in the latter company, in order to further the “development” of Oyu Tolgoi.
Rio Tinto’s joint venturing with the Canadians was conditional on Ivanhoe completely withdrawing from Burma.
But not only has Ivanhoe failed to do so; Rio Tinto itself has utterly failed to oppose, or even criticise, Ivanhoe’s blatant betrayal of the earlier undertaking.
See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=9359.