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