VZCZCXYZ0016
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBK #1145/01 1270929
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 070929Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6968
INFO RUETIAA/DIRNSA FORT GEORGE G MEADE MD PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS BANGKOK 001145 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETTC KOMC TH
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN POST-SHIPMENT END USE CHECK ON 
LICENSE 050099706 
 
REF: STATE 31926 
 
¶1. (U) POL FSN confirmed with the Commercial Registration 
Section of the Phrae Provincial Administration Organization 
that Udoman Store is a listed trading vendor.  The store's 
commercial registration is as follows: 
 
License No. 5101200109007, issued January 10, 2007 
Licensed to Manit Udom 
Location: 564, Mu 2, Tambon Denchai, Amphoe Denchai, Phrae 
Purpose of Business: To sell, purchase, possess, order, 
import, firearms or ammunition for commercial, and 
miscellaneous products 
 
Per the Commercial Registration Section, there is no 
derogatory information on the store.  The Section stated that 
the store had been in business for more than fifty years. 
 
¶2. (U) The Deputy District Chief of the Den Chai District 
Office told POL FSN that store is an authorized gun trader. 
The owner and licensee is Manit Udom, a seventy-five years 
old native of Phrae who is a respected trader and social 
figure in the area.  District Office provided the following 
documents: 
 
-- Permit for Sale and Import of Firearms, No. 2/255 1, 
issued by Den Chai District Office, dated December 25, 2008, 
to expire December 24, 2009, annually renewable 
 
-- Permit for Possession of Firearms for Commercial Purpose, 
No. 71/255 1, issued by Den Chai District Office, dated 
December 25, 2008, to expire December 24, 2009, annually 
renewable 
 
The shop is granted an annual sales quota of: 
 
(1) 50 rifles, 
(2) 30 pistols, 
(3) 2,000 buckshot bullets, 
(4) 7,500 shotgun bullets, 
(5) 10,000 rimfire bullets, and 
(6) 30,000 air-propellant bullets 
 
The District Office did not have any derogatory information 
on the store.  The Office believed that the reftel rifles 
were within the caliber allowed by the Gun Act 1947 for 
import and sale. 
 
¶3. (U) The Udoman Store was not listed in the telephone 
directory.  The reftel phone number was registered under an 
individual named Adul Udom with the same address as stated 
reftel.  We were unable to connect with this number. 
 
¶4. (U) As the Udoman Store is located 560 kilometers from 
Bangkok, a site visit was not conducted.  POL FSN did discuss 
the store's business with Manit Udom via phone calls on April 
27 and 28.  Manit told us that Udoman has been in business 
for over fifty years and that he travels between Bangkok and 
Phrae for business.  Manit said Adul Udom is his elder 
brother.  Udoman generally sells agricultural products, such 
as fertilizer and farming equipment, but that the sale of 
firearms is a part of the store's business.  Firearms are not 
displayed for sale at the store, rather customers are 
typically found over the internet.  Reftel questions: 
 
Can you confirm the order and receipt of the firearms listed 
on this license application? 
 
Answer:  The order of the listed rifles was confirmed.  It 
was the import/purchase under the Import License No. 6/2551, 
dated March 19, 2008, to expire March 18, 2009, issued by 
Denchai District Office, for the import of ten pieces of 
Kimber .308 rifles.  The Udoman purchase order to the Kimber 
is Ref. PR 02/2008, dated April 8, 2008.  All ten rifles 
arrived Thailand in July, 2008. 
 
What are these types of rifles generally used for in 
Thailand? 
 
Answer:  They are mainly for sporting purposes such as 
shooting competitions. 
 
Do you have detailed records linking these rifles by serial 
number to the ultimate end-users? Can you provide the ten 
 
serials numbers and end-users for these rifles? 
 
Answer: Yes.  Manit provided the following information 
regarding the buyers of rifles: 
 
¶1. Mr. Somphot Buraphasakun, born December 1959, residing at 
Thung Khru District, Bangkok.  Permit to buy firearm No. PK 
9762/2551, dated July 25, 2008, to expire January 24, 2009, 
issued by the Department of Provincial Administration, MOI, 
Bangkok.  U.S. serial number KW 21337 with Thai registration 
No. PR 07/5150089, dated August 1, 2008. 
 
¶2. Mr. Sitthichai Phokhai-udom, age 60, residing at Nong Chok 
District, Bangkok.  Permit to buy firearm No. PK 93 15/2551, 
dated July 15, 2008, to expire January 14, 2009, issued by 
the Department of Provincial Administration, MOI, Bangkok. 
U.S. serial number KW 21362 with Thai registration No. PR 
07/5 150091, dated August 11,2008. 
 
¶3. Mr. Kritsada Tantiwiwatphan, born September 1952, residing 
at Lak Si District, Bangkok.  Permit to buy firearm No. PK 
8392/2551, dated June 26, 2008, to expire December 25, 2008, 
issued by the Department of Provincial Administration, MOI, 
Bangkok.  U.S. serial number KW 21382 with Thai registration 
No. PR 07/5150092, dated July 25, 2008. 
 
¶4. Mr. Parinya Phanitchanok, born June 1955, residing at Phra 
Nakhon District, Bangkok.  Permit to buy firearm No. PK 
7859/2551, dated June 17, 2008, to expire December 16, 2008, 
issued by the Department of Provincial Administration, MOI, 
Bangkok.  U.S. serial number KW 21457 with Thai registration 
No. PR 07/5 150093, dated July 25, 2008. 
 
¶5. Mr. Krairoek Khotcha, born April 1968, residing at Bang Na 
District, Bangkok.  Permit to buy firearm No. PK 9957/2551, 
dated July 30, 2008, to expire January 29, 2009, issued by 
the Department of Provincial Administration, MOI, Bangkok. 
U.S. serial number KW 21758 with Thai registration No. PR 
07/5 150095, dated August 22, 2008. 
 
¶6. Mr. Nathee Uppatham, born May 1962, residing at Khlong San 
District, Bangkok.  Permit to buy firearm No. PK 2516/2551, 
dated February 19, 2008, to expire August 18, 2008, issued by 
the Department of Provincial Administration, MOI, Bangkok. 
U.S. serial number KW 21781 with Thai registration No. PR 
07/5150096, dated July 25, 2008. 
 
¶7. Mr. Thitiphan Phatisuwan, born December 1968, residing at 
Chatuchak District, Bangkok.  Permit to buy firearm No. PK 
8090/255 1, dated June 19, 2008, to expire December 18, 2008, 
issued by the Department of Provincial Administration, MOI, 
Bangkok.  U.S. serial number KW 21856 with Thai registration 
No. PR 07/5150098, dated July 31, 2008. 
 
¶8. Mr. Charoen Kaewmak, born January 1961 residing at Muang 
Pattani District, Pattani.  Permit to buy firearm No. 
287/2551, dated April 10, 2008, to expire October 9, 2008, 
issued by Muang Pattani District Office, Pattani Province. 
U.S. serial number KW 21754 with Thai registration No. PR 
07/5 150094, dated August 4, 2008. 
 
9 and 10. Mr. Chatchawan Chop-issara, born June 1973, 
residing at Muang Nakhon Ratchasima District, Nakhon 
Ratchasima.  Permit to buy firearm No. 664/2551, dated June 
18, 2008, to expire December 17, 2008, and No. 752/2551, 
dated July 21, 2008, to expire January 20, 2009, both issued 
by Muang Nakhon Ratchasima District Office, Nakhon Ratchasima 
Province.  U.S. serial number KW 21808 with Thai registration 
No. PR 07/5 150097, dated August 19, 2008, and U.S. serial 
number KW 21359 with Thai registration No. PR 07/5 150090, 
dated August 1, 2008. 
 
Who are your regular customers and where do they reside? 
 
Answer: They are the general public and state officials. 
They live nationwide.  Most civilians are sportsmen while 
officials buy rifles for their official or private use.  Most 
of customers find and buy these firearms through the internet 
or at the store's trade partner in Bangkok, the Prayot 
Firearms Ltd.  Typically, Udoman orders and imports rifles 
and Prayot helps to do customs and tax clearance when items 
arrive at the Bangkok Airport. 
 
What US-origin firearms do you typically sell? 
 
 
Answer: .45 mm of the Smith and Wesson 
 
What are your estimated annual sales of US-origin firearms? 
 
Answer: About 5 million baht 
 
In the past, what has been your source for US firearms? 
 
Answer: Kimber and Smith & Wesson. 
 
Are you familiar with the regulations governing the import of 
US-origin defense articles, including restrictions on 
re-transfer or re-export? 
 
Answer: Affirmative, Thai laws also strictly control and 
regulate the sale of firearms. 
 
¶5. (U) Manit provided us with copies of the Udoman purchase 
order No. PR 02/2008, dated 4/8/200 8, and the Kimber 
Invoice, No. 448151, dated 5/28/08, with details as stated 
reftel. 
 
- DSP-83, dated 4/8/2008 
- Import License No. 6/255 1, dated 3/19/08 
- Ten 'Permits to Buy Firearms' with names and details of the 
buyers of the listed Kimber .308 rifles and the rifles' 
series and registration numbers 
 
 
JOHN