VZCZCXRO2235
RR RUEHDBU RUEHSL
DE RUEHBK #2306/01 2530822
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 100822Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8214
RHMFIUU/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUCNEXC/EXPORT CONTROL AND RELATED BORDER SECURITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUEAWJL/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 002306
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR ISN/ECC JFRIEDMAN, ACHURCH, ROWEN, LSPRINGER,
EAP/MLS DSMITH, MFORINO, AWEST
CBP/INA FOR BMCCRAY
DEPT OF ENERGY FOR NNSA TPERRY
AMEMBASSY HANOI FOR JBOCKLAGE
AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR FOR PZARESK
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH FOR MSWEENEY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TH VN CB
SUBJECT: EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM/CAMBODIA ADVISOR MONTHLY
REPORTING CABLE - AUGUST 2009
BANGKOK 00002306 001.2 OF 002
SUMMARY
1. (U) Advisor escorted a delegation of Thai officials on an
International Visitors Program to Washington, D.C., August
3-5. Vietnam Program Assistant escorted Vietnamese officials
on a visit to U.S. Coast Guard headquarters and training
facilities, August 3-7. Advisor observed nuclear and
radiological training for law enforcement officials conducted
by Thailand's Office of Atoms for Peace, August 19. Advisor
met with Megaports team and discussed future EXBS assistance
with post and Cambodian officials in Phnom Penh, August
24-25. EXBS continues to assist DEA in transferring chemical
analysis equipment to Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security.
Advisor conducted consultations in Washington, D.C., Aug.
31-Sept. 1. Activities scheduled for September include an
Anti-Corruption and Integrity Awareness Workshop in Thailand
and a visit to Lao Cai border crossing in northwestern
Vietnam.
SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS
2. (U) Advisor and Program Assistant observed nuclear and
radiological training for law enforcement officials conducted
by Thailand's Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP) on August 19
(the full agenda ran the entire week). The training was very
comprehensive, including policy and intelligence background,
safety and technical issues, and hands-on practical
exercises. Twelve agencies participated. OAP conducts the
course two times a year. OAP is well-qualified to provide
technical assistance in support of Thailand's proposed
national Commodity Identification Training Program.
3. (U) Advisor met with the U.S. Megaports team and discussed
future EXBS assistance with post and Cambodian officials in
Phnom Penh, August 24-25. This was the initial visit to
Cambodia by Megaports, and the Cambodian government is
considering the offer to participate in the program.
Cambodia is in the process of strengthening its maritime and
port security programs. Megaports equipment and training
would provide a valuable contribution to that effort, and
complement planned EXBS port and interdiction training.
Advisor also reviewed planning considerations with post
officials for the upcoming UNSCR 1540 Implementation
Workshop, and discussed use of EXBS funding for proposed port
security training. It was decided that the Naval Criminal
Investigative Service (NCIS) would conduct training in
November, and EXBS-funded training through the U.S. Coast
Guard would be delayed until late FY10 and/or FY11.
TRAINING CONDUCTED
4. (U) Advisor escorted a delegation of Thai officials on an
Export Controls International Visitors Program to Washington,
D.C., August 3-5. The delegation was led by the Director of
the Bureau of Trade Measures, Ministry of Commerce, and
included representatives from six other ministries. Visitors
met with counterparts in the U.S. Departments of State,
Energy, Defense, Commerce and Homeland Security. The program
was designed to provide input to preparations for the Thai
Ministry of Commerce's next Export Controls Industry Outreach
Seminar in October.
5. (U) Vietnam Program Assistant escorted five working-level
officials from the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense staff and
Marine Police (VMP) on a visit to U.S. Coast Guard
headquarters and training facilities, August 3-7. This visit
was a follow-on to a similar DOD-sponsored visit by senior
GVN officials in June. The purpose of this working-level
visit was to facilitate the establishment of new USCG-VMP
Partnership Program. EXBS will sponsor Boarding Officer
Course training for VMP units in Haiphong and Phu Quoc,
October 12-23..
EQUIPMENT DELIVERED
BANGKOK 00002306 002.2 OF 002
6. (U) None.
IMMINENT TRAINING/EQUIPMENT UPDATE
7. (U) Commonwealth Trading Partners (CTP) will conduct an
Anti-Corruption and Integrity Awareness Workshop in Bangkok,
September 14-15. The workshop is being hosted by King
Prajadhipok's Institute, the Thai government's senior civil
service training school. The National Anti-Corruption
Commission will provide a presentation, with additional
contributions by the Regional Advisor of the American Bar
Association and post's Resident Legal Advisor from the
Department of Justice. Advisor and Vietnamese Program
Assistant will conduct a visit to Lao Cai border crossing in
northwestern Vietnam, September 22-23.
8. (U) Advisor and ISN/ECC continue working to facilitate the
transfer of surplus chemical analysis equipment (gas
chromatography - mass spectrometry) from DEA to the Vietnam
Ministry of Public Security's Forensic Science Department.
In addition to giving the Vietnamese police the capability to
identify illegal drugs, the equipment can also be used to
analyze suspected WMD chemical compounds. DEA will provide
installation and basic operator training; Advisor is working
with DOE and ECC to coordinate follow-on WMD technical
training in-country. Distribution of radiation pagers to
Vietnamese agencies will be made during upcoming USCG
Boarding Officer Courses in October, so that user training
can be conducted concurrently. Other pending actions include
transfer of radiation pagers to Thai Customs and the final
phase of Vietnam's Tracker Demonstration Project.
SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS
9. (U) None.
10. (U) Points of contact for the EXBS Program are: William
Comley, Regional Advisor, comleywa@state.gov, (66-2)
205-4621; Kamolrat Chotesungnoen (Dao), Thai Program
Assistant, Kamolrat@state.gov, (66-2) 205-4403; Nguyen Thi
Huong Giang, Vietnam Program Assistant, NguyenGH@state.gov,
(84-4) 3850-6241.
JOHN