VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBK #0521/01 0460946
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 150946Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1852
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS BANGKOK 000521 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PM/DTTC 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 05-050076805 
 
REF: SECSTATE 6068 
 
¶1. (U) According to the Thai Ministry of Commerce, Wanmelarp 
Firearms Ltd Partnership was registered as follows: 
 
Registration No. 0103518012168 
Registered Date: August 4, 1975 
Status: Limited Partnership 
Name: Name: Wanmelarp Firearms Part. Ltd. 
Capital Registration: 190,000 Baht 
Business partners: Suwanna Laohaphiengsak, Rattana 
Laohaphiengsak, Chaiwat Laohaphiengsak, Thanin 
Laohaphiengsak, Ubon Laohaphiengsak, Wanthani Laohaphiengsak, 
and Suphanni Laohaphiengsak. 
Manager: Suwanna Laohaphiengsak, without limitation of 
authority. 
 
Company Location: 111 Nakhon Sawan Road, Wat Sommanat 
Sub-District, Pomphrap District, Bangkok 
 
The company has submitted annual financial reports for 
1999-2007. 
 
Purpose of Company: Wholesale and retail sale of guns and 
ammunition. 
 
¶2. (U) The company was not listed in the telephone directory. 
 The phone number stated Reftel was registered under the name 
of the Rattana Firearms Ltd. Part. and Thanin Laohaphiengsak, 
located at 105 Unakan Rd., Wang Burapha Phirom Sub-District, 
Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok. 
 
¶3. (U) POL FSN made an unannounced visit to the address 
listed Reftel and met Thanin Laohaphiengsak.  The building 
was located on a busy street in Bangkok.  It was a four-story 
shop house used for administrative and living purposes. 
Several administrative staff were in the office.  Thanin 
explained that this was not a gun shop, but that it was used 
for administration, living quarters, and gun storage.  Guns 
are brought to show or sell at gun shops that are operated by 
his family at other locations.  One of the family-owned gun 
shops was Rattana Firearms in Bangkok.  Thanin declined to 
elaborate on how many gun shops his family owns.  He said he 
was not directly involved with gun sales; rather his sisters 
and brothers run the sales.  Thanin showed POL FSN the gun 
storage area on the second floor that was secured by three 
doors.  The area was a concrete room with dimensions of 
approximately seven by eighteen by nine feet.  The room was 
secured by double iron gates with padlocks.  There were 
sixteen security cameras around the building, but there were 
no security guards nor a fire control system. 
 
¶4. (U) Additional questions per Reftel: 
 
How long has your company been in the business of importing 
and selling defense articles in Thailand? 
 
Answer: Since 1975 as a family-run business. 
 
What services and products are sold by your company? 
 
Answer: The company sells pistols, revolvers, rifles, 
ammunition, and gun accessories as allowed by Ministry of 
Interior.  The company does not sell military-style weapons 
nor do they fix or modify guns.  The company imports guns 
from the U.S. and the Europe. 
 
Who are your regular customers and where do they reside? 
 
Answer: The general public, civil servants, and law 
enforcement personnel who reside throughout Thailand.  Civil 
servants in Bangkok are allowed to buy guns via the Ministry 
of Interior's Department of Provincial Administration and 
civil servants residing outside Bangkok are allowed to buy 
through the Ministry of Interior's District Office.  Buyers 
must be Thai citizens. 
 
Are you familiar with the regulations governing the import of 
US-origin defense articles, including restrictions on 
re-transfer or re-export? 
 
Answer: Yes, the company is familiar with the regulations. 
Thai authorities also prohibit the transfer or re-export of 
those products out of Thailand. 
 
¶5. (U) Thanin presented copies of: 
1) A permit for gun sales issued to Wanmelarp by the 
Department of Provincial Administration at the Ministry of 
Interior, No. 156/2550, valid August 27, 2007 - August 26, 
 
¶2008.  Permit signed by Nirawat Punnakan not Boonsom 
Watanapanee as stated Reftel. 
 
2) A permit for gun imports issued to Wanmelaro the by 
Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of 
Interior, No. 981/2550 (not 891/2550 as stated in the Cable), 
valid September 19, 2007 - September 18, 2008.  Permit signed 
by Nirawat Punnakan not Boonsom Watanapanee as stated Reftel. 
 
3) A purchase order No. CRS-i88/07 (not CRS-188/077 as stated 
Reftel), dated October 16, 2007, signed by Ms. Suwanna 
Laohapiengsak, to RSR Group, Inc.  The order was for 15 
Beretta 92F5 pistols. 
JOHN