DEMARCHE ON REFUGEE PROCESSING IN NEPAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002209

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SA/INS, PRM
NSC FOR GREEN
LONDON FOR BELL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2015
TAGS: PREF PREL CH IN NP
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON REFUGEE PROCESSING IN NEPAL

REF: A. STATE 178852

B. SEPT. 24 PARKER-SHELTON E-MAIL

Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons 1.4 (b/d)

U.S. Proposal to Resettle Tibetan Refugees from Nepal
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1. (C) In an October 6 meeting with Foreign Minister Ramesh
Nath Pandey, the Ambassador discussed the USG's proposal to
stand up a refugee processing operation in Kathmandu for some
Tibetan refugees resident in Nepal (ref A). The Ambassador
also shared with FM Pandey the one-page description of the
refugee process (ref B). The Ambassador explained that the
resettlement program would serve Nepal's interest by removing
5,000 refugees, and also China's interest by getting the
Tibetans further away from the Chinese border. Acknowledging
that the USG needed to have permission from His Majesty's
Government of Nepal (HMGN),the Ambassador asked for
confirmation that the USG could proceed with its proposal.


2. (C) The Foreign Minister responded that he would study the
proposal, but was unsure how HMGN would react, given Nepalese
reluctance to annoy China. He also lamented that the U.S.
was supporting those responsible for closing down the Tibetan
Refugee Welfare Office (TRWO) -- the political parties --
while asking HMGN to register the Tibetan Welfare Society
(TWS). Pandey continued that the U.S position "confused"
him. The Ambassador reiterated that resettlement of the
Tibetan refugees could be a solution that would benefit the
Tibetan refugees, Nepal, and China.

Chill Toward U.S.
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3. (C) Pandey expressed concern that HMGN's reaction to the
proposal might be influenced by its disappointment over the
USG decision not to invite the King to the President's UNGA
reception, which he said had harmed Nepal-U.S. relations. He
claimed that "the relationship was now at the lowest level."
The FM insisted that, although Nepal and the U.S. shared the
same goals for a Nepali return to democracy and the need to
address the Maoist insurgency, USG methods were "harmful" to
achieving those goals. The Ambassador pointed out that the
failure of the King to even begin a process of reconciliation
had forced the USG to take increasingly tough measures in
order to convince His Majesty to move in the right direction.
Pandey asserted that there were ways to convince the King to
correct his mistakes and said that, indeed, the King would
correct his mistakes. However, U.S. methods were pushing the
King to compound his errors. He stated that the U.S. had "to
compensate for past decisions regarding His Majesty."
Pandey emphasized that the U.S. should "try to do something
to make corrections" in the U.S.-Nepal relationship.

Comment
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4. (C) The Foreign Minister seems unlikely to confirm HMGN
approval of the U.S. resettlement proposal in the very near
future. He implied that a positive decision would be
dependent upon U.S.-Nepali relations improving.
MORIARTY