Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU216
2006-01-20 09:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
LETTER ON BHUTANESE REFUGEES FROM A/S ROCCA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKT #0216 0200936 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 200936Z JAN 06 FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9999 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 9080 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO IMMEDIATE 0209 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 1063
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000216
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2016
TAGS: PREF NP
SUBJECT: LETTER ON BHUTANESE REFUGEES FROM A/S ROCCA
DELIVERED TO FM PANDEY
REF: SECSTATE 7770
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000216
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2016
TAGS: PREF NP
SUBJECT: LETTER ON BHUTANESE REFUGEES FROM A/S ROCCA
DELIVERED TO FM PANDEY
REF: SECSTATE 7770
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) On January 19, the Ambassador delivered A/S Rocca's
letter on Bhutanese refugees to Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath
Pandey. The Ambassador explained that the USG supported
Nepal's efforts to set a firm time table to engage with the
RGOB to resolve the issue. The Ambassador also urged the
Foreign Minister to immediately issue exit permits to the
three vulnerable minor female Bhutanese refugees whom the
U.S. had accepted for resettlement.
Bhutan Had Committed to Immediately Implement Return
-------------- --------------
2. (C) The Foreign Minister expressed appreciation for A/S
Rocca's letter. Pandey lamented that the Bhutanese were
giving the international community the impression that the
ball was in Nepal's court. Asking that he keep it close
hold, Pandey showed the Ambassador the Bhutanese Foreign
Minister Khadu Wangchuk's September 14 letter, which conveyed
"Bhutan's offer to immediately implement the decision reached
between the two governments on Category I and Category IV of
Khudunabari camp and to deal with category II" at a later
date. Pandey explained that he interpreted Wangchuk's letter
as committing Bhutan to taking concrete action.
FM Undertakes to Write a Letter to Bhutanese FM
-------------- --
3. (C) Noting that the Bhutanese had crafted a careful
letter, the Ambassador recommended that Pandey write a letter
to FM Wangchuk suggesting a date for the beginning of the
repatriation of the Category I and IV refugees and inviting
the Bhutanese FM to come to Kathmandu in the very near future
to resolve the terms and conditions for the returns. Pandey
agreed and said he would prepare such a letter. He stressed
that his main concern was the remaining ethnic Nepalese in
Bhutan. The Ambassador noted that we were discussing with
the Government of India the pressing need to resolve the fate
of the Bhutanese refugees.
Comment
--------------
4. (C) Pandey was open to our ideas on how to move the issue
forward. He stressed that, unless a durable solution was
found quickly, the Bhutanese refugee camps could become a
festering sore that might further destabilize the entire
region.
MORIARTY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2016
TAGS: PREF NP
SUBJECT: LETTER ON BHUTANESE REFUGEES FROM A/S ROCCA
DELIVERED TO FM PANDEY
REF: SECSTATE 7770
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) On January 19, the Ambassador delivered A/S Rocca's
letter on Bhutanese refugees to Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath
Pandey. The Ambassador explained that the USG supported
Nepal's efforts to set a firm time table to engage with the
RGOB to resolve the issue. The Ambassador also urged the
Foreign Minister to immediately issue exit permits to the
three vulnerable minor female Bhutanese refugees whom the
U.S. had accepted for resettlement.
Bhutan Had Committed to Immediately Implement Return
-------------- --------------
2. (C) The Foreign Minister expressed appreciation for A/S
Rocca's letter. Pandey lamented that the Bhutanese were
giving the international community the impression that the
ball was in Nepal's court. Asking that he keep it close
hold, Pandey showed the Ambassador the Bhutanese Foreign
Minister Khadu Wangchuk's September 14 letter, which conveyed
"Bhutan's offer to immediately implement the decision reached
between the two governments on Category I and Category IV of
Khudunabari camp and to deal with category II" at a later
date. Pandey explained that he interpreted Wangchuk's letter
as committing Bhutan to taking concrete action.
FM Undertakes to Write a Letter to Bhutanese FM
-------------- --
3. (C) Noting that the Bhutanese had crafted a careful
letter, the Ambassador recommended that Pandey write a letter
to FM Wangchuk suggesting a date for the beginning of the
repatriation of the Category I and IV refugees and inviting
the Bhutanese FM to come to Kathmandu in the very near future
to resolve the terms and conditions for the returns. Pandey
agreed and said he would prepare such a letter. He stressed
that his main concern was the remaining ethnic Nepalese in
Bhutan. The Ambassador noted that we were discussing with
the Government of India the pressing need to resolve the fate
of the Bhutanese refugees.
Comment
--------------
4. (C) Pandey was open to our ideas on how to move the issue
forward. He stressed that, unless a durable solution was
found quickly, the Bhutanese refugee camps could become a
festering sore that might further destabilize the entire
region.
MORIARTY