EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM/CAMBODIA ADVISOR MONTHLY

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