EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM/CAMBODIA ADVISOR MONTHLY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 003075 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 MMCNAMARA AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH FOR MSWEENEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TH VN CB JP SUBJECT: EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM/CAMBODIA ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - NOVEMBER 2009 BANGKOK 00003075 001.2 OF 002 SUMMARY ¶1. (U) Advisor presented a briefing on the EXBS Program to Thai, Philippines and Indonesian officials during DTRA's WMD Interdiction Workshop at the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA),Bangkok, Nov. 2-6. Advisor visited DEA's Airport Interdiction Program facility in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Nov. 10. Advisor met with Australian Federal Police officials to discuss airport interdiction programs on Nov. 11. Advisor met with a nonproliferation analyst from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) to discuss nonproliferation issues in Southeast Asia on Nov. 12. Advisor visited Phnom Penh Port and observed an ASEAN-JP port security exercise at Sihanoukville Port, Nov. 16-18. DEA chemical analysis equipment has been shipped to Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security. EXBS will complete the grant documentation and provide WMD technical training. Thai and Vietnam Program Assistants attended the LES conference in Frankfurt, Nov. 16-19. Advisor will attend a Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) Export Control Experts Meeting in Hanoi, Dec. 8-10. DOE will conduct a Commodity Identification Training Workshop in Hanoi, Dec. 15-17. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS ¶2. (U) Advisor visited DEA's Airport Interdiction Program (AIP) facility in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Nov. 10. DOD's Joint Interagency Task Force - West (JIATF-W) provided additional equipment and technical support. The AIP is focused on interdiction of illicit narcotics, but there may be applications for illicit WMD commodities as well. DEA is considering placing an additional AIP facility at Suvarnabhumi Airport, a major air cargo hub. Advisor will continue to investigate potential DEA/EXBS/JIATF-W interdiction collaboration, including during proposed U.S. CBP-delivered Airport Interdiction Training later this year. ¶3. (U) Advisor met with Australian Federal Police (AFP) officials to discuss airport interdiction programs on Nov. ¶11. The AFP provides fraudulent document assistance at �0A;Suvarnabhumi Airport, but has no interdiction program there yet. AFP officials stated that most drug interdictions at the airport are accomplished by Customs officials. This suggests that the nascent Thai National Commodity Identification Training program (DOE is currently developing with the Thai Customs Academy) and proposed EXBS Airport Interdiction Training would be very useful in equipping Thai Customs officers at Suvarnabhumi Airport to conduct WMD interdictions as well. ¶4. (U) Advisor and POLOFF met with a nonproliferation analyst from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) to discuss nonproliferation issues in Southeast Asia on Nov. ¶12. IISS is well-known in the region for organizing the annual Shangri La Defense Ministers' Dialogue in Singapore. IISS recently published a dossier with nonproliferation-related policy recommendations for Southeast Asia, and continues to study regional developments. IISS will continue to be a useful resource for stimulating regional dialogue and targeting EXBS nonproliferation assistance. TRAINING CONDUCTED ¶5. (U) Advisor presented a briefing on the EXBS Program to Thai, Philippines and Indonesian officials during DTRA's WMD Interdiction Workshop at the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA),Bangkok, Nov. 2-6. Course instructors included officials from DTRA, FBI and CBP. This was DTRA's first regional training event in Southeast Asia. The inter-agency approach was well-received by participants; recommend additional DTRA events. BANGKOK 00003075 002.2 OF 002 ¶6. (U) Advisor visited Phnom Penh port and observed an ASEAN-JP port security exercise at Sihanoukville port, Nov. 16-18. Phnom Penh Port is relatively small (approximately 50k TEU volume in 2009) and does not handle any transit cargo from upriver in China. Therefore, its priority for EXBS assistance is low. The Japan-sponsored exercise at Sihanoukville Port was comprehensive and well-attended, with 15 Cambodian agencies participating and observers from most other ASEAN countries, France and Australia, in addition to the U.S. It's a good model for potential EXBS regional training, pending resolution of funding and policy issues. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED ¶7. (U) DEA chemical analysis equipment has been shipped to the Forensic Science Institute of Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security (MPS). EXBS will complete the grant documentation and coordinate with DOE for WMD technical training. Hanoi Program Assistant is coordinating with DEA and MPS for a hand-over ceremony in December. IMMINENT TRAINING/EQUIPMENT UPDATE ¶8. (U) Advisor will attend and give a briefing on regional EXBS activities at a CSCAP Export Control Experts Meeting in Hanoi, Dec. 8-10. DOE will conduct a Commodity Identification Training Workshop in Hanoi, Dec. 15-17. ¶9. (U) The final phase of Vietnam's Tracker Demonstration Project has been postponed pending approval of VAT exemption for grant assistance by the GVN. A visit by Vietnamese officials to Korea for briefings on the YesTrade export control system is still being planned. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS ¶10. (U) None. ¶11. (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