UNHCR FINDS MANY INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001471

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2016
TAGS: PREF PGOV PHUM PTER NP
SUBJECT: UNHCR FINDS MANY INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE IN
EASTERN REGION


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

Summary
--------------


1. (C) The United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR)
briefed members of the international community on June 7
about a May 18-29 mission it led to nine districts in eastern
Nepal, where it found that, using the international
definition of internally displaced people (IDPs),there could
be as many as one million IDPs. UNHCR pointed out that the
definition of "displaced" used by the Government of Nepal
(GON) and the Maoists was much more limited than that
recognized by the international community. UNHCR anticipated
that many IDPs would have trouble returning to their homes
due to Maoist threats, lack of government support, internal
village perceptions and the uncertainty of their status.
UNHCR stressed that the conflict had negatively affected
everybody in the eastern districts. It plans to focus more
on the IDP issue in the future, and will seek funding from
the international community. End summary.

Defining the Problem is Difficult, but Many are Affected
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2. (C) The UNHCR-led mission divided into three teams and
visited 24 Village District Committees (VDC) in nine
districts of Nepal's eastern region. UNHCR was accompanied
by other UN agencies, the Informal Sector Service Center
(INSEC) (a local NGO),and the Netherlands Development
Organization (SNV). While there were some differences, the
mission found that "everybody was negatively affected" by the
conflict -- by forced labor and recruitment, abductions and
extortion by the Maoists and by killings and beatings by the
army. However, UNHCR explained that the term "displaced
persons" as used in the region was much more limited than the
international community definition. Instead, it only covered
"Maoist victims" who have openly declared they were displaced
and registered at district headquarters. UNHCR pointed out
that the provision in the 12-point understanding allowing for
the return of IDPs would thus only include a small percentage
of total people displaced by the conflict. That said, UNHCR
reported that residents in the east recognized that many
others were living in district headquarters because they were
afraid to go home. The district headquarters were
effectively providing protection, even though this population
was not defined as "displaced."


3. (C) Kim Roberson, Senior Durable Solutions Officer for
UNHCR, estimated that around 20 to 30 percent of the
population in eastern Nepal was displaced by the conflict.
Extrapolating from data from the 2001 Nepal census in the
nine districts visited by the UNHCR team, the number of
displaced would be approximately one million. UNHCR
acknowledged that all might not need assistance to return.
UNHCR also estimated that more than 70 percent of children
aged 12-20 had left the area for India (usually neighboring
Sikkim) or the Gulf. The GON and the Maoists had no concrete
plan for the return of IDPs.

Absence of Government an Obstacle to Returns
--------------


4. (C) UNHCR stressed that there was a need for local-level
processes to resolve conflicts, including IDP returns, and
that this was hindered by the complete lack of GON
representation in the villages -- which where dominated by
the Maoists. In all nine districts visited by the UNHCR
teams, they noted a lack of government presence in the
villages. Roberson stated that, in the absence of
government, the Maoists were stepping into the vacuum, but
they were not neutral. UNHCR recommended that the GON
establish a policy for compensation of losses sustained
during the conflict.

Distrust of Some Displaced Makes Returns Difficult

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5. (C) Returns are further complicated because most locals
perceive those who fall into the government's definition of
displaced as "bad guys." Villagers suspected those displaced
informed the security forces about Maoist activity in the
areas they were forced to leave. The UNHCR mission reported
that subsequent to receiving reports about Maoist activity in
an area, the army was "extremely violent" in their
interactions with villagers, especially those suspected of
involvement with the Maoists. Those villagers in part blamed
the displaced.

Maoist Conditions Affect Possibility of Return
-------------- -


6. (C) Although Roberson said that neither the Maoists nor
the government had a plan to enable returns, she noted that
both sides in theory supported the concept. However, she
stated that the Maoists had three categories of IDPs.
Category A could not return home and were considered
criminals by the party. Category B could go home after
apologizing or completing some type of punishment decided by
the Maoists. Category C were welcome home at any time.
UNHCR reported that IDPs did not know which category they
belonged to and thus could not make a decision about whether
to return. The Maoists had also established conditions of
return for IDPs. Returning displaced must appear before the
"people's court," make "resettlement donations" to the party
(often large sums),complete forced labor and participate in
party activities and other "fundraising events," and "behave"
and not cause trouble to the party. Most immovable property,
which was reapportioned by the Maoists, would be returned to
the IDPs after their return, although it was unclear what
would happen to their moveable property, most of which had
disappeared.


7. (C) UNHCR also worried that the IDPs who were Maoists who
had surrendered to the government could not go home because
the Maoists would recruit them again at the first
opportunity. UNHCR reported that a fourteen year-old girl
attempted to return to her home after surrendering, only to
be "taken back" again by the Maoists. The Maoists reportedly
did not consider people who fled to avoid conscription
displaced, and said they could return whenever they liked.

UNHCR to Issue Appeal
--------------


8. (C) Abraham Abraham, UNHCR Representative to Nepal,
informed us that UNHCR planned to begin focusing more on
working with IDPs, and would establish a presence in three
cities in Nepal: Nepalgunj, Biratnagar, and Pokhara, where
UNHCR would work with the UN's local Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights and Office for Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). He notified the international
community that UNHCR would issue a supplementary appeal for
more funds to support its work with IDPs in Nepal.

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


9. (C) The magnitude of the problem of IDPs, especially those
who need assistance, is still unclear. While there are many
people affected by the conflict and fearful of returning
home, they are not on the GON's radar screen, nor on that of
the international community. As IDPs in Nepal potentially
number in the millions, we should continue to consider how to
support international organizations such as UNHCR in their
efforts to provide protection and assistance to those most in
need.
MORIARTY