Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05NEWDELHI9751
2005-12-27 12:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:  

INDIA READY TO PUSH HARDER ON BHUTAN REFUGEES

Tags:  PREL PREF KDEM PGOV ENRG IN BT 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 009751 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/26/2015
TAGS: PREL PREF KDEM PGOV ENRG IN BT
SUBJECT: INDIA READY TO PUSH HARDER ON BHUTAN REFUGEES

REF: A. NEW DELHI 9504

B. STATE 223674

Classified By: A/DCM Geoff Pyatt for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 009751

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/26/2015
TAGS: PREL PREF KDEM PGOV ENRG IN BT
SUBJECT: INDIA READY TO PUSH HARDER ON BHUTAN REFUGEES

REF: A. NEW DELHI 9504

B. STATE 223674

Classified By: A/DCM Geoff Pyatt for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) Summary: The GOI is ready to take a more proactive
role in prodding Bhutan to resolve the long-running refugee
problem, an MEA official told A/DCM and Poloff on December

27. Bhutan's King had previously informed New Delhi of his
plan to abdicate in 2008 following elections, and India is
optimistic about both political reform and economic growth in
the kingdom, especially following the 2006 entry in service
of the Tala hydroelectric project. End Summary.

Refugees: New Delhi Takes the Lead?
--------------


2. (C) MEA Joint Secretary (North) Pankaj Saran told A/DCM
and Poloff that India is "eager" to talk to Bhutan about
breaking the logjam of impediments to accepting the Category
I and IV refugees in Nepalese camps. Bhutanese interlocutors
have briefed the GOI on a verbal agreement between the
Bhutanese and Nepalese FMs on the margins of the November
SAARC summit in Dhaka to repatriate the first batch, but
progress seems to have stalled since, Saran reported. The
refugee issue is "looming larger" in New Delhi's
consciousness, however, and the GOI is willing to use its
good offices with both the Nepalese and the Bhutanese to
resolve the differences, Saran continued. He suggested that
refugee repatriation could be included on the agenda of
India-Bhutan foreign office talks scheduled for mid-January.
New Delhi is approaching the January talks as an opportunity
for "deep thinking" on how to go forward with Bhutan, and "we
intend to do more" on the refugee issue than in the past, he
emphasized.


3. (C) India understands the Bhutanese concerns about
refugee repatriation, Saran commented, including fears of
Maoist organizing in the refugee camps, and would move
forward with both Bhutanese and Nepalese concerns in mind.
New Delhi would also like to get a "better fix" on Nepal's
objections to the proposal, he added, voicing Nepalese
concern that Bhutan may agree to take only the first batch
and then wash its hands of the issue.

The Democratic Monarch
--------------


4. (C) Thimpu had previously informed New Delhi of King
Wangchuk's plan to abdicate his throne in 2008 following
elections and establishment of a constitutional monarchy (Ref
A),Saran said. He speculated that the monarch's decision
was prompted by a desire to provide to his son more guidance
in governing than he received upon assuming the throne after
the death of his own father. New Delhi is ready to deal with
the Crown Prince and expects him to take a more active role
in affairs of state leading up to the 2008 transition.


5. (C) The decision to abdicate is linked to the
introduction of the Constitution, Saran observed, a
continuation of the process the King began in 1998 by
devolving power to a Prime Minister. Bhutan's population is
young, Saran said, a fact that the King has pointed to in
discussions with the GOI as a reason for his determination to
introduce a constitutional democracy to "better reflect the
aspirations" of the population. Saran dismissed concerns
that the constitutional changes could be a prelude to further
expulsions of ethnic Nepalese, saying that while New Delhi

NEW DELHI 00009751 002 OF 002


has seen no indications that could be the case, it would
strongly disapprove of further expulsions.

Optimistic about Bhutan's Future
--------------


6. (SBU) New Delhi is optimistic about Bhutan's
transformation, Saran commented, observing that the economy
is looking up, particularly after the expected entry in
service of the Tala hydroelectric project, ideally in May or
June 2006. Hydroelectricity remains an area for growth, he
continued, and India intends to do feasibility studies on
three other locations for possible hydroelectricity projects.


7. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website:
(http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/)
BLAKE