BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON

UNCLAS BANGKOK 007533 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR PM/DTCC BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR MROMERO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC TH SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON LICENSE 05-1012492 REF: SECSTATE 195288 ¶1. According to the website maintained by the Thai Ministry of Commerce, Department of Business Development (www.dbd.go.th),Porn Me Larp Ltd. is listed as follows: Registration No. 0103518000593 Registration Date: 13 JAN 1975 Name: Porn Me Larp Ltd., Partnership Capital Registration: 150,000 Baht Business Partners: Ms. Vilai Puikaew, Mr. Ronnarong Puikaew, Ms. Ravivan Puikaew. Managers is Ms. Vilai Puikaew Location 3/6 Unakan Road, Wang Burapha Phirom Sub-District, Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok The Business submitted financial reports from 1999 through 2005 According to the Telephone Directory, Porn Me Larp Ltd., is not listed, however the phone number used in the license is registered under the name of Mr. Ronnarong Puikaew. ¶2. On December 19, 2006, POLFSN made an unannounced visit at the place of business. The company is located in a four-story concrete building in an area of Bangkok where many other gun shops are located. During the visit, POLFSN met with Ms. Vilai Puikaew. ¶3. Ms. Vilai provided the following responses to reftel queries: Can you confirm the order under license 05-1012492? Yes. Ms. Vilai presented four permits for the importation of firearms issued by the Thai Department of Provincial Administration: 553/2549, 554/2549, 555/2549 and 556/2549, dated between August 22, 2006 valid until August 21, 2007 for the weapons outlined in reftel. Ms. Vilai also presented a copy of Purchase Order CRS-112/06, signed and dated September 12,2006, to the RSR Group Inc. All copies were certified by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and corresponded with the information provided in reftel. Where will the items be stored prior to commercial resale? Ms. Vilai showed POLFSN a Milner combination safe located on the first floor of the shop measuring 1.5 x 2 x 1 meter in which the weapons will be stored. The shop does not have CCTV or a guard and the windows in the front of the shop do not have iron bars. Can you confirm the security of all items in your inventory? Yes. Ms. Bilai presented a gun inventory, maintained in a bound book detailing types and serial numbers of guns and the purchaser's data. Department of Provincial Administration officials periodically inspect the inventory ledger. Who will be the final end-users of these pistols? Ordinary Thai citizens, civil servants and, law enforcement officials are allowed to purchase weapons with proper permits by the Department of Provincial Administration. A Thai citizen wishing to purchase a pistol must obtain a permit from the Provincial Administration. Government employees are additionally required to provide evidence of approval from their supervisor. Foreign nationals are not permitted to buy a gun without special permission of the Department of Provincial Administration. Can you confirm that you keep detailed records of all customers? Yes. Ms. Vilai presented the above-mentioned ledger for inspection. The Department of Provincial Administration also keeps records of applications for gun permits. None of these records, however, are computerized. How long have you been in business and who are your regular customers? The company was founded in January 1975 and is family run. The regular customers include government officials and private citizens. Ms. Vilai owns two other gun shops: Thanison Firearms Ltd and Phimpha Firearms Ltd. Who are the company's principal officers? See above. Are you familiar with the restrictions governing the import of U.S.-origin defense articles, in particular, the prohibition against unauthorized re-export? Yes. In addition, Thai law also prohibits the re-export of imported weapons. Will any of these pistols be exported out of Thailand? No. ¶4. POLFSN also visited the Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior and met with Mr. Kittiphong Yot-aphikun who confirmed that Porn Me Larp Ltd. is licensed to import and sell firearms in Thailand. Mr. Kittiphong presented Firearms Sale Permit No. 41/2549, Porn Me Larp's current license, which is valid from June 20, 2006 until June 19, 2007. Four permits for importing firearms on the lot of weapons outlined in reftel were also presented. Do you have derogatory information regarding the conduct of this firm? No. ARVIZU