INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Blue Lantern Level 3: Pre-License End-Use Check On

Published: Fri 14 Mar 2008 09:16 AM
VZCZCXYZ0012
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBK #0830/01 0740916
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140916Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2273
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS BANGKOK 000830
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PM/DTCC FOR BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC TH
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON
LICENSE 05-050087349
REF: STATE 14950
1. (U) According to the Thai Ministry of Commerce, Paisith
Firearms Ltd. Part. was registered as follows:
Registration No. 0103514004691
Registered Date: March 23, 1971
Status: Limited Partnership
Capital Registration: 1,000,000 baht
Business partners: Vassana Tiprak, with investment of 500,000
baht; Supreeya Tiprak, with investment of 460,000 baht;
Sattha Nucharoenkul, with investment of 20,000 baht; and
Suphot Chamraschai, with investment of 20,000 baht.
Manager: Vassana Tiprak, without limitation of authority.
Location: 26 Subsin Road, Wang Burapha Phirom Sub-District,
Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok.
The business has submitted annual financial reports during
1999-2006.
Purpose of Company: Import and retail sale of guns.
2. (U) Paisith Firearms Ltd., Part. is listed in the
directory under the same address and telephone number as
stated in reftel and in the commercial registration.
3. (U) Post conducted a Blue Lantern check on Paisith in
December 2006 and its bona fide was confirmed at that time.
POL FSN made an unannounced visit to Paisith and met with
Sattha Nucharoenkun and Vassana Thiprak. Both confirmed the
planned purchase and import of reftel weapons. Paisith would
purchase on behalf of Tinnarat Intarakhamhang, the original
licensee, who owns a gun shop in Buriram Province, who had
given authorization to Paisith for importation. The Buriram
District registrar had approved the transaction. Tinnarat
and her shop are located in Buriram.
Both Sattha and Vassana confirmed that they understood USML
and ITAR regulations, particularly the prohibition for
re-export or re-transfer of US-origin weapons. The reftel
weapons would be sold in Bangkok on behalf of Tinnarat to the
buyers who are licensed by the Ministry of Interior. The
partners presented copies of Import License No. 9/2550 under
the name of Tinnarat with the import authorization to
Paisith; and Paisith's Purchase Order No. D 004/08-RM, dated
1/9/2008.
4. (U) Tinnarat Intarakhamhang lives in Buriram, which is
approximately 390 kilometers from Bangkok. Post would
appreciate guidance on whether it is necessary to visit
Tinnarat. POL FSN contacted Tinnarat by phone inquiry.
5. (U) The telephone directory provided the following
information regarding Tinnarat Intarakhamhang:
Address: 317 Mu 8, Tambon Isan, Amphoe Muang, Buriram,
Thailand 31000.
Telephone: 044-620-696
6. (U) Buriram District Deputy Chief Sirilak Atthaiso, who
supervises gun shops and gun licenses in Muang Buriram
District, confirmed of the existence of Tinnarat's gun
business, as well as the planned purchase and importation of
this lot of guns. She also confirmed the authorization by
Tinnarat and her District Office to Paisith in Bangkok to
import on behalf of Tinnarat via Import Permit No. 9/2550,
dated Nov. 29, 2007, to expire Nov. 28, 2008, twenty-four
.308 rifles and eight .223 rifles. Permit No. 2/2550, dated
Nov. 29, 2007, was also issued to Tinnarat, to expire Nov.
28, 2008 (annually renewable) for Tinnarat for the gun
business. No derogatory information was found.
7. (U) Tinnarat told POL FSN that she holds the license for
the gun shop, "Inthara Kamhang Firearms", located at
448/10-11 Jira Rd., Nai Muang Sub-District, Muang Buriram
District. The telephone directory address is her residence.
Tinnarat confirmed the purchase and import of this lot of
guns, as well as her authorization to Paisith to do it on her
behalf. However, she does not manage the business. She has
leased the business to Rujichat Chaiyathanapura and family
since the late 1970's. Rujichat is currently managing the
business. He and his wife live at the shop. As to the
Ministry of Commerce's website, Tinnarat's statement, and a
document provided by Tinnarat, this gun shop was officially
registered in March 12, 1976, under the name of
"Intharakamhang Buriram", but had been in business prior to
that. In March 1994, the business was dissolved and
immediately re-registered as "Intharakamhang Firearms."
Tinnarat said she does not understand USML and ITAR
regulations because she does not manage the business.
However, she insisted that she had complied with all Thai
laws governing this business.
8. (U) POL FSN spoke with Rujichat Chaiyathanapura, the
current operator of the business. Rujichat confirmed that he
runs this gun shop as he leased the business from Tinnarat.
He confirmed the purchase and import of this lot of weapons
and the authorization to Paisith to import it. He also
confirmed that the guns would be sold by Paisith in Bangkok
on behalf of his gun shop. Rujichat said he is well aware of
the USML and ITAR regulations, particularly the prohibitions
for re-transfer or re-export, and never violated these
regulations. He said he followed Thai government laws and
regulations that dictate that guns will be sold only to those
having the permits or licenses from the Ministry of Interior.
The business registration information is as follows:
Registration No. 5319900017186
Registered Date: March 24, 1994
Address: 448/10-11 Jira Rd., Nai Muang Sub-District, Muang
Buriram District, Buriram
Tel: 044-616-869
The registration is under the name of Tinnarat
Intharakamhang.
Purpose of Business: To sell guns, ammunition, and gun
accessories
This business had requested for a change in business once,
Request No. 123/2549, dated December 6, 2006, to change
location of the business.
9. (U) POL FSN spoke with the Buriram Provincial
Administration Organization's Registration Section and
confirmed the business registration. No derogatory
information was found.
JOHN
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