STATE DEPT. 2004 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 001201

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM ELAB EAID SMIG ASEC PREF KCRM KWMN KFRD CASC NP SA PPD
SUBJECT: STATE DEPT. 2004 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT

-- Both Nepal's English and Nepali dailies gave prominence
to the State Department's "2004 Trafficking in Persons
Report." The news-stories quoting the report were
published in the front page of the major dailies on June


16. On June 17, five dailies (three English and two
vernacular) wrote editorials reiterating the report's
articulation of the stale situation in regards to
trafficking of persons in Nepal. Economic woes coupled
with the Maoist insurgency and political unrest were cited
as the reasons behind the sad situation of trafficking in
the country.

The following are excerpts from the editorials published on
June 17, 2004.

-- Inhuman trafficking: "...The report has categorically
mentioned that although Nepal has been making efforts to
comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of
crime, instability and insurgency have prevented the
government endeavors... Maoist insurgents have not only
successfully created political havoc in the countryside,
but they have also contributed to assisting trafficking of
concerned authorities, civil society, and the people should
understand the gravity of the situation and find a way out
unanimously." (Centrist "The Kathmandu Post," E/D)

-- Tackling trafficking: "...Nothing substantial seems to
have been done in this regard [to combat trafficking of
peoples]... The report states that the Nepalese government
could do more by complying with the minimum standards for
the elimination of trafficking and more significant efforts
in this direction are necessary... The situation should be
tackled through the law enforcement efforts against
trafficking which has been limited because of the
continuing political instability and also because of the
severe lack of resources of the impoverished country as
because of the Maoist insurgency activities police have
been withdrawn from most rural areas." (Government-owned
"The Rising Nepal," E/D)

-- No improvement: "...Trafficking in persons is one problem
that Nepal has never been able to contain, leave alone
eliminate... The practice has also tarnished the country's
image". The government has done a good deal towards
eliminating trafficking in persons, but a lot still needs
to be done. The extent of human trafficking today is
certainly lower than it was before the restoration of
democracy in 1990... The process of reformation, meanwhile,
must continue to encourage the male members, who hold sway
over the future of their female progenies and siblings, to
desists from illicit sexual indulgence. Their
participation in the success of this campaign is crucial."
(Pro-India "The Himalayan Times," E/D)

-- Pain of trafficking: "Another negative point has been
added to Nepal's identity in the international community.
The report published by U.S. Department of State has once
again shamed and shaken the Nepali state and the civic
society. The latest report is evidence to the fact that
our efforts to stop trafficking have not been fruitful. It
also means that we have to start our programs to stop
trafficking from scratch... Our rulers have not been
sensitive enough on the issue. The government did try to
break the traffickers' nexus with a national program but
that addressed only one aspect of the problem. We need
programs that deal with root causes and other aspects of
trafficking. Realization of the problem and the pain can
only lead to effective programs and their implementation."
(Centrist "Rajdhani," V/D)


-- Brutal crime: "... While the international community
expresses its concern over the increasing sale of six-seven
year olds and illiterate women, the government is not
that the government is not doing much on this and the
political parties, so-called shadow government; also do not
raise the issue... There is a need to launch massive
awareness programs, penalize the criminals and break their
links. The administration should also become very active
to control such criminal activities." (Centrist
"Spacetime," V/D)

BOGUE