Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04KATHMANDU1026
2004-06-03 07:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

BHUTANESE REFUGEES: HISTORY STARTS TODAY

Tags:  PREF PREL PHUM PGOV BT IN 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 SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001026 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SA/INS AND PRM/ANE
LONDON FOR POL/GURNEY
NEW DELHI PLEASE PASS TO DAS DCAMP
CAIRO FOR CHEYNE
GENEVA FOR PLYNCH
NSC FOR MILLARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2014
TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM PGOV BT IN NP
SUBJECT: BHUTANESE REFUGEES: HISTORY STARTS TODAY

REF: A. A. KATHMANDU 758

B. B. NEW DELHI 3117

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Janet Bogue for reasons 1.5 (B,D).

Support for the End Goal
-------------------------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001026

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SA/INS AND PRM/ANE
LONDON FOR POL/GURNEY
NEW DELHI PLEASE PASS TO DAS DCAMP
CAIRO FOR CHEYNE
GENEVA FOR PLYNCH
NSC FOR MILLARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2014
TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM PGOV BT IN NP
SUBJECT: BHUTANESE REFUGEES: HISTORY STARTS TODAY

REF: A. A. KATHMANDU 758

B. B. NEW DELHI 3117

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Janet Bogue for reasons 1.5 (B,D).

Support for the End Goal
--------------


1. (C) We appreciate the perspective, based on personal
experience as well as scholarship, brought to the history of
the Nepalese Bhutanese refugee problem by Embassy New Delhi
(REF B). The roots of the present imbroglio are deep and
complex. What the Government of Bhutan describes as
legitimate steps to safeguard a vulnerable culture against
illegal immigrants and pro-democracy agitators appear to many
foreign observers (including this mission) as unjustifiable
ethnic persecution and expulsion of nearly a sixth of the
kingdom's population. The history of the Bhutanese refugees
is subject to varying interpretations, but is less important
than what the U.S. Government, the Governments of Nepal and
India, and the international community can do to solve it.
We agree with Delhi that "we are working towards the same
goal: a durable solution" and support Delhi's multifaceted
and forward-looking strategy. The following are our comments
on New Delhi's prescriptions.

Begin Equitable
Repatriation Without Delay
--------------


2. (C) We agree that the USG should press the RGOB to begin
repatriation of Category 1 "Genuine Bhutanese" refugees as a
first step. In addition, the verification process in other
camps should be accelerated in a transparent manner and the
appeal process should be reinstated. The Joint Verification
Team (JVT) took eighteen months to "verify" the approximately
12,200 refugees within Khudunabari Camp and determined that
only 2.4 percent of the population met the JVT's criteria for
Category 1. Such a small proportion of involuntary emigres
is belied by all independent assessments, and can be
justified only in the context of reported assurances by the
RGOB to the Nepalese Government that Bhutan plans to accept

both Category 1 and 2 refugees, which together constitute
over 72 percent of the Khudunabari Camp's inhabitants. The
USG should urge the RGOB to clarify its intentions regarding
Category 2 refugees and state them publicly. The USG should
also garner international support for the re-opening of the
appeals process to correct flawed JVT determinations that
often separate minor children from their parents and render
others "stateless."

Need for Specific, Written
Terms of Repatriation
--------------


3. (C) The USG should engage with the RGOB on the need to
provide detailed, written information on the terms and
conditions for repatriation. Such specific issues as
citizenship, land ownership, shelter, employment, language,
education, and security must be addressed.
Confidence-building mechanisms could include public radio
broadcasts and/or internet dissemination of terms of return
and the RGOB's authorization of a small group refugees to
conduct a "pre-repatriation" visit to examine conditions of
return first-hand. This approach has been very successful in
other refugee situations. The USG should continue to
highlight the role that international organizations already
active in Bhutan (such as ICRC, UNDP, WFP and UNICEF) can
play in facilitating re-integration into Bhutan society and
economy. We believe, however, that the UNHCR's unique
mandate and capabilities would be invaluable in implementing
and legitimizing the repatriation process.

Direct Dialogue
--------------


4. (C) The USG should encourage direct dialogue between the
RGOB and refugees. However, recent events suggest that there
should be a neutral party present to facilitate the dialogue,
keep the discussion constructive and on track, and ensure the
credibility and sustainability of the process.

Strengthen USG Diplomatic Efforts
--------------


5. (C) The USG should strengthen our diplomatic efforts on
two fronts:

-- As New Delhi suggests, we should "take the lead in
organizing a coordinated effort" to make it clear to the RGOB
that the international community, including Bhutan's major
donors, expects RGOB to honor its responsibilities as a
member of the UN in solving the refugee problem according to
international standards, preferably with UNHCR's involvement.
The USG might be able to rejuvenate the coordination within
the "Friends of Bhutan" group, urging its members to use
their collective influence and offer their collective
resources to persuade the RGOB to repatriate a substantial
portion of the camps' residents, and thus prevent the camps
from becoming the breeding grounds of political radicalism.

-- We hope that New Delhi will agree that the USG should
encourage the new Government of India, given its unique
influence in Bhutan, to take a more proactive role to resolve
a problem that threatens to become a source of political
unrest, and possibly terrorism, in India, Nepal and Bhutan.
We agree fully with a UNHCR official from Geneva, who
recently visited Kathmandu, that India holds the key to any
satisfactory settlement of the refugee problem. Fortunately,
the signals that Natwar Singh's MEA has been sending to
Kathmandu suggest that issues of security in the Himalayas
are being accorded high priority in New Delhi. We will look
for further signals during Singh's visit to Kathmandu this
week.

BOGUE