NEPAL'S ARMY SETS UP HUMAN RIGHTS CELL

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001372

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2012
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL MARR NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL'S ARMY SETS UP HUMAN RIGHTS CELL

Classified By: Ambassador Michael E. Malinowski, Reasons 1.5(b),(d)


1. (C) Summary. Nepal's army has set up a cell to
investigate reported human rights violations, the Defense
Ministry announced July 10. A high-ranking officer agreed to
consider offers of USG assistance for the newly-created
office. The cell has reportedly been established because
human rights inquiries have become too numerous for senior
officers to handle. Human rights groups welcomed the news
and planned to offer assistance to the RNA. End Summary.


2. (SBU) The Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) has set up a human
rights cell under its Adjutant General Department to
investigate reports of human rights violations, a July 10
Defense Ministry press release announced.


3. (C) The RNA Chief of General Staff (CGS) gave ODCOff
advance notice of the announcement during a July 10 briefing
on U.S. security assistance. The CGS stated that the cell
would include representatives from the offices of the RNA's
Director of Public Relations, Judge Advocate General and
Military Police. Col. Deepak Gurung, Director of Public
Relations, would serve as the primary point of contact for
the cell. (Note: At the time of the announcement Col.
Gurung was in the U.S. on a single country project IVP
program on "Government Public Affairs." End Note.)


4. (C) The new human rights cell has not yet received any
international assistance or advice, the CGS noted. ODCOff
proposed arranging for an advisor from the Center for
Civilian-Military Relations (CCMR) to come to Nepal to assist
with the program. The CGS agreed that that was a good idea.
He added that the cell "works with ICRC." (Note: Although
the RNA has agreed in principle to cooperate with ICRC, ICRC
maintains that it still does not have access to RNA
detainees. End Note.)


5. (C) The RNA Director of Military Operations (DMO) told
DATT that he had set up the cell because the volume of human
rights inquiries had become too large for his office to
handle. He stressed that he planned to ensure that the cell
was sufficiently staffed and funded.


6. (SBU) Kapil Shrestha, member of the GON's National Human
Rights Commission, told us the army's new approach was
"encouraging." "We encourage them to adopt a responsive
stance on human rights," he added, and would be willing to
collaborate on training and materials. Human rights groups
also welcomed the announcement. Representatives of the Human
Rights Organization of Nepal (HURON) told Ambassador July 12
that they planned to meet with the RNA in coming days to
discuss the cell and offer assistance.


7. (C) Comment: So far, the RNA has moved slowly to address
reports of rights violations. That RNA top brass have taken
pains to express support for the new human rights cell is
welcome news, perhaps indicating that Mission efforts to
focus the RNA's attention on potential human rights problems
are paying off. Post will watch closely for signs that the
new mechanism is in fact speeding the RNA's response to
complaints. End Comment.
MALINOWSKI