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

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