VZCZCXYZ0002
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBK #0905/01 0981034
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 081034Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6683
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS BANGKOK 000905 
 
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 
050145190 
 
REF: STATE 20018 
 
¶1. (U) According to the Thai Ministry of Commerce Phongs 
Firearms Ltd. Part. was listed: 
 
Registration No. 0103512001105 
Registered Date: January 22, 1969 
Status: Limited Partnership 
Capital Registration: 150,000 Baht 
Name: Phongs Firearms Ltd. Part. 
Partners: Phiraphol Bupparumnee with an investment of 20,000 
baht, Yuwadee Bupparumnee with an investment of 30,000 baht, 
Thanaphol Bupparumnee with an investment of 20,000 baht, 
Thititorn Bupparumnee with an investment of 50,000 baht, and 
Nanthana Bupparumnee with an investment of 30,000 baht. 
Company Location: 2/4 Burapha Rd., Wang Burapha Phirom, Phra 
Nakhon, Bangkok 
The company has submitted annual financial reports for 
1999-2007. 
Purpose of Company: To import and sell guns and ammunition. 
 
¶2. (U) The company was listed in the telephone directory as 
02-226-2937 and 02-623-7897, not as stated reftel. The number 
stated in the Cable (02-221-8328) is registered as the 
Songchai Firearms Ltd. Part., located at: 20 Mahachai Rd., 
Wang Burapha Phirom, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok.  When we called 
the reftel number the phone was answered as Yothin Firearms. 
A Blue Lantern investigation was conducted on Yothin Firearms 
in April 2007, no adverse information was detected.  The 
owner at that time said his family members owned seven gun 
shops, including Phongs Firearms. 
 
¶3. (U) POL FSN March 25 visited the Phongs Firearms shop. The 
one-room shop is located in The Old Siam Plaza, a large 
shopping mall in a busy business area of Bangkok.  The shop 
contained an old iron safe and there were no guns or 
ammunition on show. Thititorn Bupparumnee of Yothin Firearms 
Ltd said Phongs Firearms is one of his family's business 
chain shops.  Thititorn presented copies of: 
 
- The Phongs' commercial registration, issued by Ministry of 
Commerce, 
- The Phongs' Permit for Sale of Firearms, No. 86/2551, dated 
June 29, 2008, to expire June 28, 2009, issued by Department 
of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior, 
- The Phongs' Permit for Possession of Firearms for 
Commercial Purpose, No. 86/2551, dated June 29, 2008, to 
 
expire June 28, 2009, issued by the Department of Provincial 
Administration, Ministry of Interior, 
- The Phongs's Purchase Order No. CKB-137/09, dated January 
15, 2009, to Kimber MPG., Inc., signed by Thanaphol 
Bupparumnee and a letter from the Kimber to Phongs confirming 
the order and purchase of 30 sets of .45 ACP pistols, plus 30 
magazines, 
- A DSP-83, signed by Thanaphol Bupparumnee, dated January 
15, 2009; the copy with Bunpluek and Donna Logan's signatures 
was not available. 
 
¶4. (U) Inquires per reftel: 
 
What is your relationship with Bunpluek Maprojong? 
 
Response: Bunpluek is an individual gun trader and one of 
Yothin's trading partners for about 15 years. Yothin later 
put her onto the Phongs's trade contact.  Yothin is a big gun 
shop that needs to have its shop network for weapon business- 
operating, gun quota, tax, and accounting management. 
 
What role is Phongs Firearms playing in this transaction? 
 
 
Response: Phongs will import this set of guns that Bunpluek 
has obtained by her quota from the local gun registrar in 
Buriram Province on behalf of Bunpluek.  She has assigned 
Phongs to import the guns, this was approved by the local gun 
registrar.  Bunpluek lives upcountry and it is more 
convenient to have a Bangkok-based gun shop conduct the 
transaction.  A portion of the set of pistols will be on sale 
in Bangkok on behalf of Bunpluek as the gun market in Bangkok 
is larger than in Buriram. 
 
Why are you involved in the transaction if the import permit 
is issued to Mrs. Bunpluek Maprojong? 
 
Response: Because Bunpluek has assigned Phongs to import on 
her behalf, as described above. 
 
Are you familiar with the regulations governing the import of 
US-origin defense articles, including restrictions on 
retransfer or re-export? 
 
Response:  Yes, Phongs is familiar with the restrictions and 
with Thai law as well.  Thititorn additionally explained that 
once this set of guns arrives, it will be transported to 
Buriram on a car with an armed guard and driver for gun 
declaration and registration there.  One of the partners may 
accompany.  When done, most will be shipped back to Bangkok 
for sale on behalf of Bunpluek. 
 
¶5. (U) POL FSN spoke with Bunpluek Maprojong on the phone. 
Bunpluek lives in Buriram and has been in gun business as an 
individual firearms trader since 1977 as inherited from her 
father.  She is granted an annual gun quota of 50 rifles and 
30 pistols.  She owns and operates her gun shop, namely, Ruam 
Phanit Firearms Ltd., Part., that is located at 330 
Chokchai-Det-udom Road, Tambon Nang Rong, Amphoe Nang Rong, 
Buriram.  Tel. 044-631- 834, 081-879-8618. 
 
Inquiries per reftel: 
 
Can you confirm the order of the firearms listed on this 
license 
application? 
 
Response: Yes, as evidenced by the Permit for Order/Import of 
Firearms No. 2/2551, dated December 19, 2008, to expire 
December 18, 2009, issued by the local gun registrar at Nang 
Rong District, Buriram. 
 
Are you an authorized firearms retailer? 
 
Response: Yes. As evidenced by permit for sale of firearms, 
No. 2/2551, dated December 19, 2008, to expire December 18, 
2009, and Permit for Possession of Firearms for Commercial 
Purpose, No. 194/2551, dated December 19, 2008, to expire 
December 18, 2009, issued to her by the Nang Rong District 
Office.  Ruam Phanit Firearms Ltd, Part. has been registered 
with the Buriram Provincial Authority's Commercial 
Registration Section since December 2, 1981, Ref. No. 1045. 
This is the second registration after the first registration 
by her father.  The purpose of business is to sell guns, 
ammunitions, and gun spare parts, and to modify guns. 
 
Are these firearms being imported into Thailand for your 
personal use or for commercial resale? If for personal use, 
can you please explain why the quantity is so high? 
 
Response: They are for commercial resale. None will be for 
personal use or collection. 
 
What is your relationship with Phongs Firearms? 
 
Response:  Her family, in particular her husband, is a 
long-time friend of the family that owns Yothin Firearms and 
its shop network in Bangkok.  They have been friends for 
almost 50 years. For this specific case, as usual, she has 
assigned Phongs Firearms to import this lot of guns on her 
behalf. 
 
What are the term of agreement between you and Phongs 
Firearms in this transaction? 
 
Response: It is an agreement based trust.  Phongs will import 
and partly sell the materials, then share some gains to her. 
This practice has been followed since almost the beginning of 
her business.  Phongs will do everything, including advancing 
money to purchase the guns. 
 
What role is Phongs Firearms playing in this transaction? 
 
Response: To import and partly sell this lot of guns on her 
behalf, as to her consent and approval by the local gun 
registrar 
 
Are you familiar with the regulations governing the import of 
U.S.-origin defense articles, including restrictions on 
retransfer or re-export? 
 
Response:  POL FSN sensed that she was not aware and 
explained the principle to her.  She affirmed that she has 
never violated as such. 
 
¶6. (U) POL FSN spoke with the Nang Rong District Office in 
Buriram and the Department of Provincial Administration at 
 
the  Ministry of Interior. 
 
Can you confirm that Mrs. Bunpluek Maprojong is authorized to 
import firearms into Thailand? 
 
The Nang Rong District Office confirmed that Bunpluek is 
authorized to import firearms into Thailand per Permit for 
Order/Import of Firearms, No. 2/2551, dated December 19, 
2008, to expire December 18, 2009, issued by the Nang Rong 
District Office, and Bunpluek's assignment to Phongs Firearms 
in Bangkok to import those guns on her behalf. 
 
Is she properly registered as a firearms retailer and/or 
private firearms owner in accordance with the law? 
 
The Nang Rong District Office confirmed that Bunpluek is 
registered as a firearms retailer and trader, and possesses 
all proper legal permits.  Permit for Sale of Firearms is No. 
2/2551, dated December 19, 2008, to expire December 18, 2009, 
and her Permit for Possession of Firearms for Commercial 
Purpose is No. 194/2551, dated December 19, 2008, to expire 
December 18, 2009. 
 
Can you confirm that Phongs Firearms is authorized to import 
firearms into Thailand? Is the company properly registered as 
a firearms retailer in accordance with the law? 
 
The Department of Provincial Administration confirmed the 
registration and business legitimacy of the Phongs Firearms. 
The shop is authorized to import and sell the weapons. He 
also confirmed the documents Thititorn presented. 
 
Can you explain the procedure by which private companies and 
individuals import firearms into Thailand? 
 
The Firearms, Ammunitions, Explosive Articles and Fireworks, 
and Imitation of Firearms Act, 1947, or the "Gun Act", and 
the consequent amendments and relevant Interior Ministerial 
Rules and Regulations: 
 
¶1. A person or group of persons wanting to start a gun 
business has to register the business with Ministry of 
Commerce like other regular businesses. 
 
¶2. The business must request two permits from Ministry of 
Interior, (1) Permit for Sale of Firearms and (2) Permit for 
Possession of Firearms for Commercial Purpose.  Those 
registered upcountry will request through district offices. 
Those registered in Bangkok will request through the Gun Shop 
Registration Section of Department of Provincial 
Administration. These permits are good for one year, however, 
they are routinely renewable.  The Interior Minister is the 
issuing and approving officer. 
 
¶3. The business must also request a Permit for Order/Import 
of Firearms.  In Bangkok, the issuing and approving officer 
is Director of Bureau of Investigation and Legal Affairs.  In 
the provinces the District Chief Officer is the responsible 
authority for issuing the permit.  This permit is also good 
for one year, and will routinely be reissued annually.  This 
permit allows for the import and sale of not more than thirty 
pistols and fifty rifles per year. Each gun shop cannot 
retain more than five Permits. 
 
¶4. After obtaining the Permit for Order/Import of Firearms, 
the business can import guns within their quota. 
 
What limitations on firearms imports exist, according to the 
laws and regulations in Thailand? 
 
Per to the Interior Ministerial Regulation No. 11, issued in 
1979, in compliance to the Gun Act 1947, the following types 
and sizes of firearms are permitted to be imported: 
 
(1) A gun with a rifle barrel with a diameter of the muzzle 
(caliber) of not more that 11.45 mm. 
(2) An unrifled-barrel gun, as following: (a) caliber not 
more than 20 mm and (b) muzzle-loading gun, shotgun, and 
flare-signal gun. 
(3) A gun with the self-reloading mechanism for re-firing: 
(a) length of barrel not more than 160 mm, (b) shotguns, (c) 
a rifle or pistol with caliber not more than 5.6 mm. 
(4) Guns without silencers and guns that cannot be used to 
fire chemical, poisonous, biological, radioactive, fire, and 
metal-piercing bullets. 
 
Is there an annual limit to how many firearms a business or 
 
individual may import? 
 
Yes.  One import permit allows for the importation of not 
more than fifty rifles and thirty pistols per year.  One gun 
shop cannot possess more than five permits.  However, per the 
Interior Minister's Order No. 109/2535, dated February 10, 
1992, no new gun shops can be registered. 
 
Can one's import allowance be transferred to another business 
or individual? 
 
Yes, as allowed by the Interior Ministerial Order No. 
674/2490, dated October 10, 1947.  The transfer must be 
approved by the District Office gun registrar. 
 
In this case, is it lawful for Phongs Firearms to import 
firearms using an import permit issued to Mrs. Bunpluek 
Maprojong? Please explain the regulations on this practice. 
 
Yes, as stated above.  However, that set of guns have to be 
shipped to the original licensee's location for registration 
and sale.  In practice, guns may be sold elsewhere on behalf 
of the original licensee. 
JOHN