VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBK #1896/01 1711108
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 191108Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3442
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS BANGKOK 001896 
 
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 
APPLICATION 050101174 
 
REF: STATE 50053 
 
¶1. (U) According to the Thai Ministry of Commerce, Laser 
Research Co., Ltd. was listed. 
 
Registration No. 0105536079904 
Registered Date: July 12, 1993 
Status: Company Limited 
Capital Registration: 2,000,000 baht 
Executives: Kriangdech Prasong and Duangsamon Thongsidaeng. 
Authorized executive members for legal commitments: Any 
executive. 
Company Location: 159/12, Muban Phromsuk, Soi Trai 
Rattanaram, Ramintra Rd., Anusaowari Sub-District, Bangkhen, 
Bangkok. 
The company has submitted annual financial reports for 
1999-2007. 
Purpose of Company: To service and maintain computer 
equipment. 
 
¶2. (U) The company's phone number as stated reftel was 
confirmed by phone directory.  The fax number was registered 
under a private name of Phirasak Khruaphet, under the same 
address.  The company's address was confirmed as 159/12, the 
Phrom Suk Housing Estate, Soi Trai Rattanaram, Ramintra Rd. 
(Soi 8), Anusaowari Sub-District, Bang Khen, Bangkok 10220 
 
¶3. (U) When POL FSN first visited the address provided reftel 
and discovered it to be an ordinary residential house in a 
housing estate project without any business operation.  No 
one answered at the address.  POL FSN visited again in a 
pre-arranged meeting and met Kriangdech Prasong and Phirasak 
Khruaphet, a part-time staff. 
 
¶4. (U) Questions per Reftel: 
 
Question: Does the company have proper supporting 
documentation, from the National Science Agency of Thailand 
for this proposed transaction? 
 
Response: Yes. Kriangdech presented copies of 
 
- The proposed price quote for Laser Rangefinder Receiver 
Module 759 to Capt. Sahaphong Khruaphet, Royal Thai Navy 
(RTN),  Military Research and Development Center, No. 
LR211/51, dated April 1, 2008.  This was on a plain sheet of 
paper without a signature or the company seal. 
 
- The purchase order for the said Laser Rangefinder Receiver, 
No. RBD-1-2551, dated Apr. 10, 2008, from Laser Research, 
with signature and company seal but without the addressee 
company. 
 
- Genetron Engineering Corporation Pte. Ltd.'s price 
quotation No. QS/23/0408, dated April 10, 2008, to Laser 
Research and Capt. Sahaphong, RTN. 
 
- The Laser Research's statement, dated April 11, 2008, with 
signature and company's seal, with intention in lieu of 
end-user statement.  Kriangdech admitted that he did not know 
of the DSP-83 End-User Form and had not signed one.  He said 
the items would be used in a laser research project at the 
National Science Agency of Thailand that would be led by 
Capt. Sahaphong Khruaphet of the Royal Thai Navy. 
 
Question: When did it first establish a relationship with the 
Agency? 
 
Response: In 2002 or 2003.  The company trades, imports, and 
provides service.  It sought to purchase and service orders 
from state agencies.  For this purchase, the company 
contracted with Capt. Sahaphong directly, not with the 
Agency.  Kriangdech and Phirasak admitted that Sahaphong was 
their relative. 
 
Question: Does the company have relationships with any other 
Thai government agencies? 
 
Response: Yes, with the Army Engineering Corp - Ratchaburi, 
Asian University - Pathumthani, and Ubon Ratchathani 
University. 
 
Question: Will the company be handling or storing the items 
listed on the application? If so, does it have secure 
facility and proper accounting and security procedures for 
handling these sensitive USML items? 
 
Response: The items would be shipped to the company by FedEx. 
 
 They may be stored at the company for a short period (not 
more than 7 days) pending delivery to the research team. 
Kriangdech added that only the Hybrid Eyesafe Laser 
Rangefinder Receiver Model 759 was equipment.  The 
Application Note for Model 759 and Test Data Sheet for Model 
759 are the accompanying paper documents.  Since the company 
was located in an ordinary small living house, there was no 
security guard.  There was no fire or security system.  The 
items would be stored in a locked iron cabinet in the living 
room of the house. 
 
Question: When was the company established and who are its 
principals? 
 
Response: The company has been set up since 1993. All company 
info were confirmed as stated in Para 1. 
 
Question: What is the nature of its business? 
 
Response: A trading and service provider company.  It 
purchases things as contracted by state agencies and provides 
maintenance services on computer, electronic, and laser 
equipment as contracted.  It was a small family-run business. 
 
Question: What types of items does it handle? 
 
Response: Computers, lasers, electronics, and fiber optic 
equipment. 
 
Question: Does it serve as a broker? 
 
Response: No, the company conducts its own bids, imports, 
purchases, and service. 
 
Question: What types of organizations are among its typical 
customers and where are the customers located? 
 
Response: All are state and academic agencies; there were no 
private or business sector clients. 
 
Question: Does the company understand the restrictions on 
United States Munitions List (USML) items, especially the 
prohibition against unauthorized re-transfers and re-exports? 
 
Response: Kriangdech and Phirasak admitted they did not know 
about this U.S. law.  After learning of the law they promised 
to abide by it.  They said they will study the law from the 
internet and load the DSP-83 Form for their future use if it 
was on the website.  They promised to buy an iron safe to 
store the items purchased. 
 
¶5. (U) POL FSN visited the National Science Agency of 
Thailand (NSAT).  NSAT was located in Amphoe Khlong Luang, 
Pathumthani which is approximately 40 kms north of Bangkok. 
The official name was "the National Science and Technology 
Development Agency (NSTDA)".  POL FSN met Dr. Saran 
Samritdetkhachon, Acting Lab Director of the Photonics 
Technology Laboratory, and Dr. Uthai Charoenwong, Director of 
Strategy and Organization Development Division, of the 
National Electronics and Computer Technology Center, an 
agency under NSTDA.  They both said they had heard about this 
project, as proposed by a group of outsiders and soldiers 
seeking funds from NSTDA.  However, they did not know about 
the progress of the study or the responsible persons.  POL 
FSN June 16 spoke with Supachari Wichairot, coordinator of 
the NSTDA's Reverse Brain Drain Project, the unit that has 
approved and funded the inquired laser project.  She 
originally agreed to meet with POL FSN June 17 but later 
declined after she reported the inquiry to her superior ASTDA 
Asst. Director Dr. Siriroek Songsiwilai.  Siriroek would not 
be available to meet until June 23-27. 
 
¶6. (U) POL FSN met with Capt. Sahaphong, Lead Researcher to 
the Develop of Eyesafe Laser Rangefinder Project, at 
Kasetsart University in Bangkok.  Sahaphong was a special 
lecturer at this school in addition to his regular career as 
a military researcher to the Military Research and 
Development Center of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. 
 
Question: Are you familiar with Laser Research Company? 
 
Response: Yes.  The company was tasked to purchase the reftel 
equipment for his research project.  This was the second time 
this company purchased laser equipment for him. The first 
purchase was in 2003 or 2004. 
 
Question: Is Laser Research Company an official participant 
in the "Development of Eyesafe Laser Rangefinder" project 
 
 
sponsored by the National Science Agency of Thailand with a 
project period of 2003 - 2008? 
 
Response: No.  It was just a company contracted to purchase a 
set of laser equipment for the project.  This project, under 
his supervision and leadership, comprised of four other 
researchers: 
- Prof. Sukanda Iutamuia, an Indonesian national and lecturer 
at Northern California University, 
- Mr. Kanokphot Arikun, a lecturer at the Faculty of 
Sciences, Kasetsart University, 
- Capt. Kiatkun Chaisangwon, Royal Thai Navy Academy, and 
- Capt. Phaisan Kaewket, a researcher at the Military 
Research and Development Center, the Royal Thai Armed Forces. 
 
Sahaphong himself was a graduate of the Royal Thai Navy 
Academy in 1985 with his MS.EE. in Digital Signal 
Processing from University of Pittsburgh.  His team proposed 
the project to NSTDA's Reverse Brain Drain Project for 
funding and was granted 2,500,000 Baht. The research period 
was 2003 to 2006 with an extension through 2008.  The project 
was to produce the prototype of an eyesafe laser rangefinder 
with various Original Equipment Manufacturers for the NSTDA. 
If successful, it could be contracted to the private sector 
or state agencies to reproduce for internal or international 
use. 
 
Question: What is the nature and scope of the company's work 
for your Agency?  When did Laser Research first establish a 
relationship with the Agency? 
 
Response: The company did not directly work for the NSTDA, 
but contracted with him and his research team directly as the 
company assigned to purchase the laser equipment for his 
project.  He was the one who ordered the purchase and paid 
the money.  The NSTDA had provided research funds but was 
involved with the project's administration.  His team first 
contracted with the company in 2003 or 2004. 
 
Question: Does the company have relationships with any other 
Thai government agencies? 
 
Response: As far as he knows, the company also imports and 
purchases scientific equipment for Kasetsart University, Ubon 
Ratchathani University, Asian University, and the Royal Thai 
Navy. 
 
Question: Does the company need the eyesafe laser rangefinder 
receiver listed on this application in order to perform its 
work for your Agency? 
 
Response: The company does not need the items for its work 
for the NSTDA. It would purchase the items for his research 
project. 
 
Question: Will Laser Research Company's relationship with the 
National Science Agency continue after the "Development of 
Eyesafe Laser Rangefinder" project ends this year? If so, in 
what capacity? 
 
Response: No. It was just a company contracted to 
occasionally purchase items for research.  It was not a 
single-source purchaser and it was not a research assistant 
or co-researcher of any kind.  The relationship will end if 
there was no project or purchase order. 
 
¶7. (U) Capt. Sahaphong provided an additional written 
statement. 
 
Begin Statement: We have bought one unit of 759 LRF module 
before (2004) for the purpose of laser light detection and 
processing. This unit just malfunctioned while experiment in 
the lab in February 08. We want this unit to replace the 
first one that broken. 
 
Currently there are about 550 units of handheld LRFs deployed 
in Thai military. These LRFs were purchased from SIMRAD, UK, 
more than a decade ago.  These LRFs are getting old and 
wearing out, and the spare parts are expensive and hard to 
find.  These LRFs are not eyesafe, thus military personnel 
are exposed to the danger of blindness when they operate the 
LRF in practice or real battle field.  In near future eyesafe 
LRFs will be required to replace the non-eyesafe ones.  To 
save the country's spending budget and to reduce dependence 
on other countries, the research on eyesafe LRF is proposed. 
The research will include the basic theory of laser 
rangefinder, the theory of laser as applied to the eyesafe 
LRF, the optical, electronic, and mechanical parts of the 
 
LRF, and the field test of the completed system. 
 
The system employs Time of flight (TOF) technique by sending 
a laser pulse to the target and detects the returned pulse. 
Time of flight was converted to distance by equation R=c.t/2. 
The system consists of three main parts: laser transmitter, 
receiver and time to range converter. 
 
Every parts of the system was built and integrated. 
Unfortunately during the laboratory experiment the LRF 
receiver module was broken (the one that I already 
purchased). 
 
Expected result: 
Handheld laser rangefinder that can measure the distance up 
to 3 km or better with  /-5 m resolution. 
 
I've asked Laser research Co., Ltd. to process the 
procurement for me because this company has experience 
purchased the first one. The End User letter (EUL) to assure 
that 759 LRF module will not resold to third country was 
signed by LR.  End statement. 
JOHN