NEPAL CRACKS DOWN ON IRAQI TRAVELERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000793

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2013
TAGS: PGOV PREL NP IZ
SUBJECT: NEPAL CRACKS DOWN ON IRAQI TRAVELERS

Classified By: DCM Robert K. Boggs for reasons 1.5 (b,d)


1. (C) In a May 1 conversation with the DCM, Foreign
Secretary Madhu Raman Acharya disclosed that the Government

SIPDIS
of Nepal (GON) has instructed all its diplomatic posts not to
issue visas to Iraqi passport holders without specific
authorization from the Foreign Ministry in Kathmandu.
According to Acharya, the GON will consider issuing visas to
Iraqis with good reasons to be in Nepal, but will advise the
Embassy in advance of any such issuance and provide
biographic and travel information on those permitted entry.


2. (U) Additionally, fifteen Iraqi refugees transiting Nepal
on their way to Sweden were initially detained by the GON.
All fifteen claimed to be Christians fleeing religious
persecution in Iraq. Some were seeking to join family
members already in Sweden. Eight subsequently have been
released to the UNHCR for further processing. Three of the
Iraqis still in custody are in deportation proceedings, and
the remaining four are under criminal investigation for their
use of false documents.
MALINOWSKI