Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU217
2006-01-20 09:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR PRESSES HMGN TO ISSUE EXIT PERMITS TO
VZCZCXYZ0026 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKT #0217 0200946 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 200946Z JAN 06 FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0001 INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 3510 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 9081 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO IMMEDIATE 4095 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA IMMEDIATE 9156 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 3842 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 2077 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 1064 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000217
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA/INS, PRM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2016
TAGS: PREF PREL TB NP
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESSES HMGN TO ISSUE EXIT PERMITS TO
TIBETAN REFUGEES
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000217
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA/INS, PRM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2016
TAGS: PREF PREL TB NP
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESSES HMGN TO ISSUE EXIT PERMITS TO
TIBETAN REFUGEES
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) In a January 18 meeting with Home Minister Kamal
Thapa and a January 19 meeting with Foreign Minister Ramesh
Nath Pandey, the Ambassador urged His Majesty's Government of
Nepal (HMGN) to issue exit permits to the transiting Tibetan
refugees. Thapa replied that he expected to receive a status
report by the end of the week and perhaps then could provide
an explanation as to why there was no movement in issuing
exit permits.
Concern About China, but Urging Better U.S.-Nepal Relationship
-------------- --------------
2. (C) FM Pandey acknowledged the strong Tibetan lobby in the
U.S., but explained Nepal had to "find a way to address the
issue without annoying the Chinese." He noted he was writing
a paper so he could have a ready explanation for the PRC.
The Ambassador stressed that HMGN should continue to quietly
issue exit permits as it had for years in the past.
Referring to an earlier plea for a stronger U.S.-Nepal
relationship as a counterweight to Nepal's neighbours, Pandey
again emphasized that the main issue for Nepal was
"safeguarding Nepal's independence."
Comment
--------------
3. (C) While professing to hear the Ambassador's warnings
about deep U.S. interest in Tibetan refugees, Pandey appears
to want to use the Tibetan refugee issue as a lever to obtain
closer U.S.-Nepal relations. That said, we believe Pandey
accurately reflects the King's concerns about not irritating
China. The Ambassador has explained that an improvement in
our bilateral relationship depends upon Nepal taking the
right steps to restore democracy and address the Maoist
insurgency. He has also warned the FM, however, that a
deterioration of HMGN's treatment of Tibetan refugees would
have a chilling effect on the U.S.-Nepal bilateral
relationship.
MORIARTY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA/INS, PRM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2016
TAGS: PREF PREL TB NP
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESSES HMGN TO ISSUE EXIT PERMITS TO
TIBETAN REFUGEES
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) In a January 18 meeting with Home Minister Kamal
Thapa and a January 19 meeting with Foreign Minister Ramesh
Nath Pandey, the Ambassador urged His Majesty's Government of
Nepal (HMGN) to issue exit permits to the transiting Tibetan
refugees. Thapa replied that he expected to receive a status
report by the end of the week and perhaps then could provide
an explanation as to why there was no movement in issuing
exit permits.
Concern About China, but Urging Better U.S.-Nepal Relationship
-------------- --------------
2. (C) FM Pandey acknowledged the strong Tibetan lobby in the
U.S., but explained Nepal had to "find a way to address the
issue without annoying the Chinese." He noted he was writing
a paper so he could have a ready explanation for the PRC.
The Ambassador stressed that HMGN should continue to quietly
issue exit permits as it had for years in the past.
Referring to an earlier plea for a stronger U.S.-Nepal
relationship as a counterweight to Nepal's neighbours, Pandey
again emphasized that the main issue for Nepal was
"safeguarding Nepal's independence."
Comment
--------------
3. (C) While professing to hear the Ambassador's warnings
about deep U.S. interest in Tibetan refugees, Pandey appears
to want to use the Tibetan refugee issue as a lever to obtain
closer U.S.-Nepal relations. That said, we believe Pandey
accurately reflects the King's concerns about not irritating
China. The Ambassador has explained that an improvement in
our bilateral relationship depends upon Nepal taking the
right steps to restore democracy and address the Maoist
insurgency. He has also warned the FM, however, that a
deterioration of HMGN's treatment of Tibetan refugees would
have a chilling effect on the U.S.-Nepal bilateral
relationship.
MORIARTY