INDIA UNDECIDED ON CHR NEPAL RESOLUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 002379

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM IN NP EU UK SZ
SUBJECT: INDIA UNDECIDED ON CHR NEPAL RESOLUTION

REF: STATE 54530

Classified By: A/Polcouns Matt Boyse, for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) We shared reftel demarche with MEA J/S (North) Ranjit
Rae on March 28 regarding the need to improve GON human
rights record or face an Item 9 resolution at the CHR. After
repeated attempts to elicit a response from the J/S proved
unsuccessful, A/Polcouns managed to reach him in the early
evening of March 30.


2. (C) Rae appreciated our position, commenting that it was
"very strong" and hoping that it would have an impact. The
MEA had not yet taken a position because it had not yet
reconciled conflicting views on the issue of Item 9 vs. Item
19 resolutions. On the one hand there was New Delhi's
historic opposition to country specific cases, while on the
other the GOI remained extremely concerned about developments
in Nepal. He had heard little positive news of late from
Kathmandu, where authorities had even recently detained three
prominent academics from leaving the country (a reference to
former Nepalese Ambassador to India Lokraj Baral's failed
attempt on March 25 to fly to Goa to attend a conference).
The GOI was still grappling with this dilemma, he concluded.
MULFORD