Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU1368
2006-05-30 10:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
HOME MINISTER POSITIVE ON REFUGEE ISSUES
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001368
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2016
TAGS: PREF PGOV CMGT NP
SUBJECT: HOME MINISTER POSITIVE ON REFUGEE ISSUES
REF: KATHMANDU 1328
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).
Follow-To Join Tibetan Refugee Cases
------------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001368
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2016
TAGS: PREF PGOV CMGT NP
SUBJECT: HOME MINISTER POSITIVE ON REFUGEE ISSUES
REF: KATHMANDU 1328
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).
Follow-To Join Tibetan Refugee Cases
--------------
1. (C) Home Minister Krishna Sitaula, joined by new Home
Secretary Umesh Mainali, raised refugee issues with the
SIPDIS
Ambassador during a May 30 meeting. Sitaula cited the recent
GON decision to issue travel documents to refugees (reftel).
In response to whether "follow-to-join" Tibetan refugees
would be eligible to travel to the U.S., the Home Minister
said yes. Mainali, stating that these were humanitarian
cases, asked that the Embassy send a letter with the names of
those refugees. The Ministry took on board the Ambassador's
urging that the GON establish a process for these cases
rather than rely on a Cabinet decision for each
determination.
Bhutanese Refugees
--------------
2. (C) The Ambassador also urged the GON to issue exit
permits to vulnerable Bhutanese refugee cases. The Home
Minister seemed to view the request positively. Upon hearing
that other countries also had vulnerable cases in the
pipeline, he suggested that UNHCR send a letter to the
Ministry detailing the specific cases. Pol/Econ Chief
subsequently briefed UNHCR Country Resident Abraham Abraham,
who said he would send such a letter to the Home Ministry
prior to a June 1 meeting he had scheduled with Home Minister
Sitaula. The Ambassador also pressed the issue of allowing
UNHCR to conduct a "census" of the Bhutanese refugee camps.
He noted that UNHCR conducted a census in its camps
world-wide, and that the RGOB had used Nepal's past
reluctance as evidence that Nepal was to blame in the lack of
progress on the refugee issue. Mainali said that the Home
Ministry would coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs on this issue.
Comment
--------------
3. (C) The Home Ministry seems eager to do the right thing on
refugee issues. Although Sitaula still seems somewhat
uncomfortable in meetings with foreigners, we view it as
positive that he brought in Mainali, who is well-versed in
refugee issues.
MORIARTY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2016
TAGS: PREF PGOV CMGT NP
SUBJECT: HOME MINISTER POSITIVE ON REFUGEE ISSUES
REF: KATHMANDU 1328
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).
Follow-To Join Tibetan Refugee Cases
--------------
1. (C) Home Minister Krishna Sitaula, joined by new Home
Secretary Umesh Mainali, raised refugee issues with the
SIPDIS
Ambassador during a May 30 meeting. Sitaula cited the recent
GON decision to issue travel documents to refugees (reftel).
In response to whether "follow-to-join" Tibetan refugees
would be eligible to travel to the U.S., the Home Minister
said yes. Mainali, stating that these were humanitarian
cases, asked that the Embassy send a letter with the names of
those refugees. The Ministry took on board the Ambassador's
urging that the GON establish a process for these cases
rather than rely on a Cabinet decision for each
determination.
Bhutanese Refugees
--------------
2. (C) The Ambassador also urged the GON to issue exit
permits to vulnerable Bhutanese refugee cases. The Home
Minister seemed to view the request positively. Upon hearing
that other countries also had vulnerable cases in the
pipeline, he suggested that UNHCR send a letter to the
Ministry detailing the specific cases. Pol/Econ Chief
subsequently briefed UNHCR Country Resident Abraham Abraham,
who said he would send such a letter to the Home Ministry
prior to a June 1 meeting he had scheduled with Home Minister
Sitaula. The Ambassador also pressed the issue of allowing
UNHCR to conduct a "census" of the Bhutanese refugee camps.
He noted that UNHCR conducted a census in its camps
world-wide, and that the RGOB had used Nepal's past
reluctance as evidence that Nepal was to blame in the lack of
progress on the refugee issue. Mainali said that the Home
Ministry would coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs on this issue.
Comment
--------------
3. (C) The Home Ministry seems eager to do the right thing on
refugee issues. Although Sitaula still seems somewhat
uncomfortable in meetings with foreigners, we view it as
positive that he brought in Mainali, who is well-versed in
refugee issues.
MORIARTY