Cablegate: Blue Lantern Pre-License End Use Check On License

VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBK #2175/01 2391019
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 271019Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8093
INFO RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUETIAA/DIRNSA FORT GEORGE G MEADE MD PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS BANGKOK 002175

SIPDIS

FOR PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC TH
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN PRE-LICENSE END USE CHECK ON LICENSE
050181625

REF: STATE 78948

1. (U) According to the Thai Ministry of Commerce, Krungthai
Firearms, Ltd. was listed.

Registration No. 0103510012517
Registered Date: September 13, 1967
Status: Limited Partnership
Capital Registration: 750,000 baht
Partners: Amornthep Sajathep, with an investment of 500,000
baht, and Saovanee Bin Muhammad, with an investment of
250,000 baht.
The managing partner is Amornthep Sajathep.
Company Location: 2/46, Burapha Rd., Wang Burapha Phirom
Sub-District, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
The company has submitted annual financial reports for
1999-2008.
Purpose of Company: To import and sell guns and ammunition.

2. (U) Krungthai was listed in the telephone directory as
indicated reftel. However, the house number of Krungthai, as
provided by the directory was 2/46, not 2/45 as stated
reftel.

3. (U) We visited Krungthai August 13 at a busy shopping mall
called "The Old Siam Plaza." Kulbeepal Singh Sachdev
(Songwut in Thai) confirmed the reftel sale and transaction
of the weapons. The weapons will be purchased via the
"Welfare Project for the Government Officials" managed by
Bureau of the Investigation and Legal Affairs. All buyers
are government officials or elected/selected administrators
of local administrative organizations. These individuals are
qualified to purchase firearms per their status as government
officials. In addition, many are law enforcement officials.
The firearms would be the private property of the buyers who
use their own money to purchase the weapon. Buyers would use
the weapons for self defense, their duty, for sporting
purposes, or for collecting. The weapons, once they arrive
at the airport, would be transported to Krungthai's secure
room for inspection and labeling. Then they would be
delivered to the Bureau of the Investigation and Legal
Affairs for distribution.

4. (U) Songwut presented all reftel documents and all details
matched. Krungthai has a Permit for Sale of Firearms and
Ammunitions for Commercial Purpose, issued by Bureau of the
Investigation and Legal Affairs, No. 74/2552, dated July 8,
2009, to expire July 7, 2010, renewable. Import permits for
945 units as follows:

- Import Permit No. 466/2552 to 481/2552 (16 permits) for
import of .45 ACP Colt, each for 50 units.
- Import Permit No. 482/2552 for import of .45 ACP Colt, for
83 units.
- Import Permit No. 483/2552 for import of .38 Super Colt,
for 60 units.
- Import Permit No. 357/2552 is for import of .45 Colt, for 2
units

This is only a portion of the larger project. Krungthai was
awarded contracts for 2,000 sets from the Welfare Project.
Songwut added that Krungthai was part of a gun shop network
under the parent company Erawan Firearms Part., Ltd. Erawan
has eighteen gun shops nationwide. (Note: We conducted a
Blue Lantern investigation on Erawan in 2006, 06 BANGKOK
07586. End note.) Erawan also provides a secure room for gun
storage pending delivery, and some of Krungthai Thai's
firearms would be stored there. (Note. The shops are located
approximately 15 meters apart. End note.) The Erawan secure
room measured approximately 2 meters x 4 meters x 3 meters
with concrete walls and iron covering. There are six CCTV
cameras and one or two night guards inside the shop.
Krungthai has a secure room with about the same
characteristics with 8 CCTVs.

5. (U) The Bureau of the Investigation and Legal
Affairs-Ministry of Interior is a state agency under the
Department of Provincial Administration (DPA) at the Ministry
of Interior (MoI). Per the agency's website, its
responsibilities are:

- Examining, working, and giving advice on all legal matters
under jurisdiction of DPA.
- To investigate criminal offenses; to direct and coordinate
the maintenance of public order and safety; to suppress
crimes and to facilitate for public fairness practices under
jurisdiction of District Chief.

- To work with, or support the functions of other related
state agencies, or to perform duties as assigned.

6. (U) We met August 13 with Prawet, Chief of Gun Shop
Registration Section and Somkhit Jaiyim, Director of Bureau
of Investigation and Legal Affairs. This office was located
at the Department of Provincial Administration. Both
officers affirmed of the firearm purchase and transaction as
described reftel. The program was under the DPA Welfare
Project for government officials who want to have guns. This
round contains a total of more than 2,000 items. More than
twenty rounds have been completed since the project began in
February 1992. The project will continue and last day for
ordering firearms this year will be September 30. 2,000 to
3,000 items are purchased annually. Qualified government
officials for this project are primarily from the MoI
(central and provincial officials, sub-district
chiefs/village chiefs, territorial defense volunteers and
officials, and administrators of local organization
administrations), and police and military personnel. Prawet
presented copies of all Import Permits. They matched those
provided by Krungthai. The Bureau will deliver this lot of
weapons to the listed officials who have ordered and paid, or
partly paid, for these guns once the Bureau has received them
from the private contractor. The buyers have to pick up their
guns in person at the Bureau with the supporting/contracted
documents.

7. (U) Firearms in this project become the personal assets of
the buyers. However, officials are allowed to use their guns
in performing official duties or in the capacity of law
enforcement officials because the government provides
inadequate guns. Each individual is responsible for the
storage and security of the gun. The MoI, through local gun
registrars, monitors the guns.

8. (U) Prawet and Somkhit said the Bureau has approximately
290 officials, and approximately 70 have law enforcement
duties. There are no government-issued weapons at the
Bureau. The MoI has tens of thousands employees. Like other
law enforcement personnel, MoI officials prefer to buy and
use their own guns rather than using those of the government.
Somkhit and Prawet showed us the secure room for storage of
weapons pending their delivery. The walls were concrete and
the windows and gates have iron bars. The entrance and the
cabinets each have three locks and require three officials to
be present to open. There are guards and CCTVs at all times.

9. (U) Fixtech Co., Ltd. was listed in Ministry of Commerce
website:

Registration No: 0105538141429
Registration Date: November 28, 1995
Status: Company Limited
Company Executives: Dissatat Dejthamrong, Thanisom
Dejthamrong, Surapee Dejthamrong, and Aphinya Wongwiwatchai.
Capital Registration: 10,000,000 baht
Company Location: 142 Building Pacific Place 2, Sukhumvit
Rd., Khlong Toei, Bangkok.
This Company has submitted for 1999-2008.
Purpose: To sell firearms and all types of war equipment

10. (U) We visited Fixtech August 13 and met Bussaba
Kriengmahasak. The company was the distribution
representative for Colt. Bussaba confirmed this purchase and
confirmed the accuracy of the documents provided by Krung
Thai and the Bureau of Investigation and Legal Affairs.
JOHN

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