Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03KATHMANDU1239
2003-07-01 10:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

NEPALI KING SAYS TIBETAN DEPORTATIONS A MISTAKE

Tags:  PREF PREL PGOV CH NP 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001239 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS AND PRM
BEIJING PLEASE PASS CHENGDU
LONDON FOR POL - GURNEY
NSC FOR MILLARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2013
TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV CH NP
SUBJECT: NEPALI KING SAYS TIBETAN DEPORTATIONS A MISTAKE

REF: A. KATHMANDU 1018


B. KATHMANDU 1214

C. KATHMANDU 1132

Classified By: DCM ROBERT K. BOGGS. REASON: 1.5 (B,D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001239

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS AND PRM
BEIJING PLEASE PASS CHENGDU
LONDON FOR POL - GURNEY
NSC FOR MILLARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2013
TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV CH NP
SUBJECT: NEPALI KING SAYS TIBETAN DEPORTATIONS A MISTAKE

REF: A. KATHMANDU 1018


B. KATHMANDU 1214

C. KATHMANDU 1132

Classified By: DCM ROBERT K. BOGGS. REASON: 1.5 (B,D).


1. (C) In a June 30 meeting with the Ambassador, King
Gyanendra opened by apologizing for May 31 deportations of 18
Tibetans (Ref A). He characterized the decision to deport
the 18 as undertaken by a bureaucracy that "went off on its
own" in the "last minutes of the former government." The
Government of Nepal has taken the matter very seriously, he
continued. The deportations were "a bump on the road," the
King said, an aberration that does not reflect official
policy and which he assured the Ambassador should not happen
again.


2. (C) On July 1, Abraham Abraham, Country Director for
UNHCR in Nepal, told the Ambassador that he expects 19
Tibetans who were detained in western Nepal on June 24 (Ref
B) to arrive in Kathmandu later that evening and to be handed
over to UNHCR for onward travel to India. Abhraham described
UNHCR as "very happy" with the treatment the refugees had
received from government officials so far, passing on reports
that they had been well fed and well cared for during their
detention. Abraham emphasized that he believes the
low-profile approach adopted in this latest case and in the
successful processing of another 40 Tibetans on June 13 (Ref
C) is working well.


3. (C) Comment: The King's eagerness to emphasize that
Government of Nepal (GON) policy remains unchanged
underscores the importance the GON attaches to
re-establishing its credibility on this matter. We share
UNHCR's optimism that the smooth processing of transiting
Tibetans since May 31 indicates that the GON will maintain
its earlier policy toward asylum seekers and does not plan to
deport other Tibetans in the future. Nonetheless, we will
continue to monitor the situation closely.
MALINOWSKI