UNHCR DONORS DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD ON BHUTANESE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 003090 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2016 TAGS: PREF PGOV NP SUBJECT: UNHCR DONORS DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD ON BHUTANESE RESETTLEMENT Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) During a November 20 meeting, Janet Lim, Director of the Bureau for Asia and the Pacific for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),updated core group Ambassadors on the status of the census and potential resettlement for Bhutanese refugees in camps in eastern Nepal. The Ambassador stressed the need for core group countries to declare publicly the number of refugees their countries could take for resetlement. The Ambassador also told them that the USG planned to move ahead with resettlement plans. Lim worried about the possible loss of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister KP Oli from an Interim Government, and the effect that could have on potential refugee resettlement. In a separate UNHCR donors meeting, Lim stated that, although UNHCR was concerned about the issue of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP),UNHCR-Nepal did not see an expanded role for itself regarding IDPs. Census Has Begun: Not Linked To Resettlement -------------- ¶2. (C) On November 20, Janet Lim, Director of the UNHCR Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, told core group Ambassadors that the census of the Bhutanese refugee camps in eastern Nepal had begun on November 15 and was moving along well. Abraham Abraham, UNHCR Country Representative for Nepal, said that the first camp census (Beldangi-I) would probably be finished by mid-December. Lim stressed that the census was not linked to third-country resettlement, although it will be a good tool to provide information to resettlement officers, should resettlement occur. Resettlement Should Begin Soon -------------- ¶3. (C) The Ambassador made it clear that the U.S. was ready to move full-steam ahead on resettlement as soon as possible, and asked whether countries could start resettlement processing as soon as the census was done in the first camp. None of the core group Ambassadors objected to action. Several core group envoys agreed that it was necessary to move as quickly as possible to put more pressure on the GON to allow Bhutanese refugees to depart. ¶4. (C) The Ambassador suggested to the other COMs that now would be a good time for other countries to come out publicly with numbers on resettlement, as the USG had. The Canadians had already said they were willing to take 5,000 or so. The Australian Ambassador, Graeme Lade, said that although Canberra had not given him exact numbers, he expected that Australia could take 4,000-5,000 Bhutanese refugees per year. Concern About Losing The Foreign Minister -------------- ¶5. (C) Lim said that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister KP Oli was a strong ally in the move toward third-country resettlement. However, she worried that Oli would not be in his position much longer; once an Interim Government was formed, Oli would likely be out. Lim was concerned that Oli had cancelled his trip to Bhutan on November 21. Others agreed that it was unlikely that Oli would take any action toward allowing resettlement before an Interim Government was formed. More Cooperation Needed On IDPs -------------- ¶6. (C) In a separate donors meeting, Lim stated that UNHCR had been looking at the IDP problem in Nepal as people returned to their homes after the conflict. Lim said that, although UNHCR was concerned about IDP issues, they did not have enough information about the issue in Nepal to validate KATHMANDU 00003090 002 OF 002 committing the resources necessary to provide support to IDPs. The donors present at the meeting agreed, and decided that more cooperation between UN agencies was needed before beefing up any sort of UN mission here for IDPs. Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) Post is ready to move forward on the issue of third-country resettlement, especially with the arrival of our RefCoord on November 27. We are pleased that the census is moving forward and believe we should move soon after the first camp census is completed in mid-December to increase pressure on the GON for resettlement. We share Lim's concern about Oli's future, and worry that a new Foreign Minister would need substantial briefing and persuasion before considering third-country resettlement. Against the unsettled and dynamic backdrop of Nepal's unfolding peace process, we will continue to press the GON to make sure that the Bhutanese are given the attention -- and ultimately, relief -- they deserve. MORIARTY