LEADING GOVERNMENT FIGURES: BURMA

UNCLAS RANGOON 000057 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, S/ES-O E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL BM SUBJECT: LEADING GOVERNMENT FIGURES: BURMA REF: 04 STATE 271552 ¶1. (SBU) Per reftel request, included are the names, titles, and best available phone numbers for top leaders in the Burmese ruling junta -- the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) -- and the Foreign Ministry. Name of Country: Union of Burma Date: 1/13/2005 A) Head of Government Name: Lt. General Soe Win Conventional and Formal Title: Prime Minister Lt. General Office Telephone Number: The Prime Minister's Office can be reached at 95-1-533-571. Residence/Cell Phone Numbers: We have no information on the Prime Minister's personal telephone numbers. Comment: Prime Minister Lt. General Soe Win speaks some English, but would likely use an interpreter for any discussions with foreigners. B) Head of State Name: Senior General Than Shwe Conventional Title: Senior General Formal Title: Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Office Telephone Number: the SPDC Chairman's Office can be reached at 95-1-284-922. Residence/Cell Phone Numbers: We have no information on the Chairman's personal telephone numbers. Comment: The Senior General speaks limited English, but would likely use an interpreter for any discussions with foreigners. C) Foreign Minister Name: U Nyan Win Conventional and Formal Title: Foreign Minister Office Telephone Numbers: 95-1-222-844 (MOFA main number); 95-1-221-529 or 95-1-222-844, ext. 303 (Minister's Office); 95-1-221-557 or 95-1-222-191 or 95-1-222-844, ext. 319 (Political Department) After Hours Official Number: 95-1-222-844 or 95-1-221-544 Residence/Cell Phone Numbers: We have no information on the Foreign Minister's personal telephone numbers. Comments: During office hours, the first contact would be through U Thaung Tun, the Director-General of the Political Department. He previously served at the Burmese Embassy in Washington and speaks fluent English. The Foreign Minister and his staff speak English, but the Foreign Minister would likely use an interpreter for any discussions with foreigners. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: Due to chilly relations between the USG and the GOB there is little to no regular contact possible between the Embassy and these senior leaders. Any requests for contact between the USG and the GOB (at a senior level) for now will likely go through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Political Department. Military Intelligence (MI) has, in the past, served as the most competent liaison between foreign embassies and the GOB. However, since the ouster of former Prime Minister (and MI Chief) Khin Nyunt, and subsequent dissolution of MI, which has been replaced by the Army's Military Affairs Security (MAS),the role of coordinating entity is still not defined. End comment. Martinez