Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU1796
2006-07-10 12:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
PRC APPLYING UNPRECEDENTED PRESSURE ON UNHCR
how-toVZCZCXRO3982 OO RUEHCN DE RUEHKT #1796 1911200 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 101200Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2253 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 4570 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 4824 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 9940 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 2811 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 4221 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 9984 RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU PRIORITY 0299 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1222 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1875 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001796
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2016
TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV NP
SUBJECT: PRC APPLYING UNPRECEDENTED PRESSURE ON UNHCR
REGARDING TIBETAN REFUGEES
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Nicholas Dean. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
PRC Dipnote To UNHCR To Prevent Assistance To Transiting
Tibetans
--------------------------------------------- -----------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001796
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2016
TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV NP
SUBJECT: PRC APPLYING UNPRECEDENTED PRESSURE ON UNHCR
REGARDING TIBETAN REFUGEES
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Nicholas Dean. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
PRC Dipnote To UNHCR To Prevent Assistance To Transiting
Tibetans
-------------- --------------
1. (C) Douglas DiSalvo, Associate Protection Officer at the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Nepal
(UNHCR),told Emboff that on July 7, the PRC EMBASSY sent a
diplomatic note to UNHCR requesting that UNHCR not provide
assistance to a group of 16 Tibetans who had crossed the
border from China to Nepal around July 2 (text sent via email
to SCA/INS and PRM/ANE). According to DiSalvo, the PRC
Permrep in Geneva simultaneously delivered a note to UNHCR
headquarters, providing a list of the names, ages, and gender
of the Tibetans and asking that the UN not provide
assistance. Both PRC statements referred to the Tibetans as
"illegal immigrants." The PRC Geneva letter expressed
China's concern that UNHCR assistance is creating a "pull
factor" drawing Tibetans into Nepal. DiSalvo expressed his
concern that this was the first time the PRC had requested
the UNHCR not to take action and listed specific names --
such requests in the past were general against assistance to
all Tibetans. UNHCR requested that the USG not take any
action at the current time.
Group Of Tibetans Likely To Transit Soon
--------------
2. (C) DiSalvo stated that a group of 16 Tibetans entered
Nepal at Kodari, Sindhupalchok District in north-central
Nepal around July 2. On July 4, UNHCR assisted the group and
transported them to the Tibetan Reception Center (TRC) in
Kathmandu. The group told UNHCR that they were originally a
group of 17 but one person left during the journey and the
group suspected this person was an informant. When the group
approached the border of Nepal, there was a large PRC
military presence. Although the group of 16 made it through,
another group that was following them did not. Per usual
practice, UNHCR assisted the group with travel from the
border to the TRC, and sent a list with their names to the
Government of Nepal (GON),which informs police along that
route to facilitate the travel. This list was identical to
the list the PRC provided to the UN in Geneva; UNHCR suspects
that someone within the GON leaked it to the PRC. UNHCR
plans to send a letter of concern to the GON regarding the
confidentiality of their communications. DiSalvo said that
SIPDIS
UNHCR plans to approach the Indian EMBASSY on July 10 to
procure travel documents for the group of 16. The group
plans to transit to India as soon as possible. DiSalvo
stated that, depending on the status of the group, UNHCR
would make a decision soon about whether to attempt to
procure exit permits from the GON, or just transit them to
India without permits.
Comment
--------------
3. (C) The PRC has been applying more pressure to the GON in
recent days regarding both transiting and resident Tibetan
refugees. The PRC's request to UNHCR to stop providing
assistance to transiting Tibetan refugees could also be
intended to pressure the GON to reject the proposed
resettlement of 5,000 resident Tibetan refugees in the U.S.
That said, it could also be a PRC warm-up preceding the July
27 visit of Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Wu Daewi to Nepal.
Though UNHCR has requested the U.S. not to take action at
this time, we are in close contact with UNHCR.
DEAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2016
TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV NP
SUBJECT: PRC APPLYING UNPRECEDENTED PRESSURE ON UNHCR
REGARDING TIBETAN REFUGEES
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Nicholas Dean. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
PRC Dipnote To UNHCR To Prevent Assistance To Transiting
Tibetans
-------------- --------------
1. (C) Douglas DiSalvo, Associate Protection Officer at the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Nepal
(UNHCR),told Emboff that on July 7, the PRC EMBASSY sent a
diplomatic note to UNHCR requesting that UNHCR not provide
assistance to a group of 16 Tibetans who had crossed the
border from China to Nepal around July 2 (text sent via email
to SCA/INS and PRM/ANE). According to DiSalvo, the PRC
Permrep in Geneva simultaneously delivered a note to UNHCR
headquarters, providing a list of the names, ages, and gender
of the Tibetans and asking that the UN not provide
assistance. Both PRC statements referred to the Tibetans as
"illegal immigrants." The PRC Geneva letter expressed
China's concern that UNHCR assistance is creating a "pull
factor" drawing Tibetans into Nepal. DiSalvo expressed his
concern that this was the first time the PRC had requested
the UNHCR not to take action and listed specific names --
such requests in the past were general against assistance to
all Tibetans. UNHCR requested that the USG not take any
action at the current time.
Group Of Tibetans Likely To Transit Soon
--------------
2. (C) DiSalvo stated that a group of 16 Tibetans entered
Nepal at Kodari, Sindhupalchok District in north-central
Nepal around July 2. On July 4, UNHCR assisted the group and
transported them to the Tibetan Reception Center (TRC) in
Kathmandu. The group told UNHCR that they were originally a
group of 17 but one person left during the journey and the
group suspected this person was an informant. When the group
approached the border of Nepal, there was a large PRC
military presence. Although the group of 16 made it through,
another group that was following them did not. Per usual
practice, UNHCR assisted the group with travel from the
border to the TRC, and sent a list with their names to the
Government of Nepal (GON),which informs police along that
route to facilitate the travel. This list was identical to
the list the PRC provided to the UN in Geneva; UNHCR suspects
that someone within the GON leaked it to the PRC. UNHCR
plans to send a letter of concern to the GON regarding the
confidentiality of their communications. DiSalvo said that
SIPDIS
UNHCR plans to approach the Indian EMBASSY on July 10 to
procure travel documents for the group of 16. The group
plans to transit to India as soon as possible. DiSalvo
stated that, depending on the status of the group, UNHCR
would make a decision soon about whether to attempt to
procure exit permits from the GON, or just transit them to
India without permits.
Comment
--------------
3. (C) The PRC has been applying more pressure to the GON in
recent days regarding both transiting and resident Tibetan
refugees. The PRC's request to UNHCR to stop providing
assistance to transiting Tibetan refugees could also be
intended to pressure the GON to reject the proposed
resettlement of 5,000 resident Tibetan refugees in the U.S.
That said, it could also be a PRC warm-up preceding the July
27 visit of Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Wu Daewi to Nepal.
Though UNHCR has requested the U.S. not to take action at
this time, we are in close contact with UNHCR.
DEAN