GOI EXPECTS BHUTANESE REFUGEE SURVEYS TO CONTINUE,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 003431

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2015
TAGS: PREL PREF PTER IN NP BT
SUBJECT: GOI EXPECTS BHUTANESE REFUGEE SURVEYS TO CONTINUE,
SOLUTION STILL ELUSIVE

Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt, for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) Summary: During a May 2 meeting with a visiting
G/PRM/DRL/DHS delegation in India to review Tibetan and
Bhutanese refugee issues, MEA Joint Secretary (North) Ranjit
Rae offered his view that the UNHCR "had met the concerns" of
HMGN in order to resume the registration of Bhutanese
refugees in camps in Nepal, agreed that the Dewey-Wangchuck
framework provides the best means to move ahead on the
refugee issue, and commented that many refugees had left
Bhutan voluntarily under a "pull" from Nepal. Rae also
reiterated concerns that some in the camps have links to the
Nepalese Maoists or insurgent groups in Northeast India, and
offered suggestions for managing any eventual resettlement
program. End Summary.

Refugee Camp Occupants
--------------


2. (C) Meeting with J/S Rae, the delegation led by PRM
Director of Admissions Terry Rusch expressed appreciation for
the GOI's long-running assistance to Tibetan refugees, and
raised the possibility of US resettlement of some of them as
a way of sharing the responsibility for refugee support.
Noting that their current visit was focused on proposals for
resettlement of Tibetan refugees, the delegation informed Rae
that at the appropriate time and in coordination with other
concerned governments and institutions, the USG may also
participate in a resettlement effort for Bhutanese refugees.
In the near term, the USG may undertake resettlement in the
US for a modest number of the most vulnerable Bhutanese
refugees identified by UNHCR at camps in Nepal.


3. (C) Rae offered an overview of GOI thinking on the
Bhutanese refugees, reviewed the positions of Nepal and
Bhutan on activities leading to repatriation of some of the
refugees, and stated that having addressed the "concerns" of
HMGN, the UNHCR is "again starting the survey" of the
Bhutanese refugee camp occupants. (Note: Embassy Kathmandu
informs us, and UNHCR in New Delhi has confirmed, that while
UNHCR has submitted information to HMGN, it is awaiting
government approval to continue the profiling activity. End
Note) Rae agreed that the framework for repatriation of
Category 1 refugees worked out by King Wangchuck and
Assistant Secretary Dewey offered the best prospect for
moving ahead.


4. (C) Rae stated that the number of Bhutanese refugees in
camps in Nepal is much less than the 125,000 that has been
reported. Estimating that of about 130,000 who had
originally left Bhutan, some 30,000 remained in India, Rae
commented that although some of the refugees had been driven
out by a "push" from the RGOB, many had voluntarily moved to
Nepal, responding to a "pull" to regroup ethnic Nepalese
living in a "greater Nepal." Even among the 100,000 in
Nepal, there are many with jobs or other connections to
India, he said, explaining India's policy of open admission
for Bhutanese and Nepalese. Because all people in the camps
come from one of those countries, they enjoy visa-free
movement into and out of India.

Possibilities for Resettlement
--------------


5. (C) Rae recommended that any resettlement program take
into account the "South Asian" priority given to families,
suggesting that cases should be processed to ensure that
parents, children and possibly grandparents remain united.
He estimated that the total number of families in the camps
was around 14,000-15,000. The population of the camps is
very young, he noted, with about half of the residents under
age 18. Rae advised that any third country resettlement
option be delayed until it has been determined who will
return to Bhutan. Otherwise, he warned, many will request a
third country option instead of going back. (Note: UNHCR has
mentioned to us in the past that the refugees are already
aware of this possibility. End Note)


6. (C) Commenting on the possibility of Bhutanese refugees
being interviewed in India for resettlement by the US, Rae
reaffirmed that Bhutanese and Nepalese citizens could freely
cross the Indian border, but requested that the USG consult
with the GOI before setting up any refugee processing within
India for camp residents. Rae said the GOI had reports that
the Bhutanese Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist) was
being organized in the camps, and that it may have links with
both the Nepalese Maoists and Northeast Indian insurgent
groups, but that India had no certain knowledge of this yet.
He asked how this Maoist connection might affect resettlement
in the US.


7. (C) In a separate May 6 meeting with the delegation,
Ministry of Home Affairs Joint Secretary (Foreigners) DS
Mishra noted that any refugees leaving from India for
resettlement would require an exit permit from the GOI. He
commented that any decision on allowing USG interviews with
refugees in India would be made "at a political level," not
by his Ministry, but indicated no objection in principle to
such an arrangement.

Comment
--------------


8. (C) J/S Rae's assertion that UNHCR profiling activity has
already restarted is a bit premature, but UNHCR hopes that it
will soon receive the required government approval. Rae's
discussion of a "pull" from Nepal suggests that the GOI
agrees with the Bhutanese King that not all of the refugees
are legitimate claimants. The GOI appears to have no
objection to a resettlement program for the small number of
"extremely vulnerable" refugees, but Rae seems to believe
that a larger solution is still some time away. End Comment.


9. (U) This message was cleared by Terry Rusch, Susan
O'Sullivan, Kate Friedrich, and June Tancredi.
BLAKE