Army strongmen who call the shots in Burma.

Burma's military junta is officially known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). It is made up of 12 senior generals. But power is concentrated in the hands of just a few...

THAN SHWE. Than Shwe, the xenophobic military strongman who has been Burmese Head of State since 1992, has the titles of Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and Chairman of the SPDC.
It is unknown whether he was born in 1929 or 1933, but either way he is well over the official retirement age for generals of 60, and has ambitions to remain in the presidency for life.
After working as a postal clerk, he joined the army at 20. Specialising in psychological warfare, he has been decorated 16 times.
Dogged recently by worsening health, he has cut back on public appearances after a top-secret week-long stay at Singapore's

A strong believer in astrology, Than regularly consults E Thi, a blind peasant with a speech impediment

General Hospital in December 2006. He is known to suffer from diabetes and hypertension, and is rumoured to have intestinal cancer.
Than Shwe was criticised for the excessive, expensive celebrations at his daughter's recent wedding, seen here on YouTube. A strong believer in astrology, he regularly consults E Thi, a blind peasant with a speech impediment, for advice. He loathes opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and in 2004 jailed his prime minister, Khin Nyunt, and his family for supporting her greater involvement in Burma's political process.

MAUNG AYE The Burmese junta's ruthless second-in- command has played an often Machiavellian role in his work with the intelligence service. He is renowned as a hard drinker. Like his superior, Maung Aye is chronically sick: he has suffered from prostate cancer since 2003. Where he differs from Than Shwe is in his dealings with the opposition - he would be
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more inclined to negotiate with Suu Kyi. The vice-chairman of the SPDC is not, however, a liberal voice. Maung Aye has a poor human rights record in his dealings with Burmese ethnic groups. There are also rumours about his connections with illegal drugs in Burma's Golden Triangle during the late 1970s and 80s. Despite his age, 69, and poor health, he is unlikely to pass up the chance to succeed Than Shwe.

SHWE MANN Shwe Mann, 60, is the third-highest-ranking figure in the SPDC, and considered more likely to inherit the presidency. A career soldier who was promoted to the rank of general in 2003, he fought with distinction against the Karen Liberation Army in 1989. Loyal to Than Shwe, Soe is known as the ‘Butcher of Depayin’ for ordering the killing of pro-democracy protestors it was this opportunistic military man, nicknamed 'Thura', who was believed to have flown to Singapore to receive instructions from his hospitalised leader.
Known for a more modern outlook, he has taken a lead in economic affairs, with attempts to develop gem businesses and rice mills, allegedly to the financial advantage of his son's company. Despite his very public presence, little is known about Shwe Mann. There are no records of his views about Suu Kyi, and no knowledge of his role in the suppression of the 1988 pro-democracy protests.

SOE WIN Soe Win, 58, was appointed to the largely ceremonial role of prime minister after Khin Nyunt's fall from grace in 2004. Like many other members of the junta he is seriously ill, and after flying to Singapore in May for treatment it is believed that he is suffering from leukaemia.
Soe Win is known as the 'Butcher of Depayin' for ordering the killing of followers of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Sagaing Division in May 2003. He also commanded the troops who shot democracy protestors in 1988 in front of Rangoon General Hospital, and is known to have increased the persecution of Christians during his tenure as a Regional Commander.