US embassy cable - 05RANGOON57

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