NEPAL LOSES PATIENCE ON BHUTANESE REFUGEES

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000057 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SA/INS DEPT FOR PRM E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2016 TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL NP SUBJECT: NEPAL LOSES PATIENCE ON BHUTANESE REFUGEES REF: 05 KATHMANDU 2871 Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) In a January 5 conversation with the Ambassador (other topics reported septel),FM Pandey reviewed his assessment of the Bhutanese refugee issue and how best to reach a solution. Noting that his main concern was the fate of the remaining ethnic Nepalese in Bhutan and his conviction that Bhutan was trying to stall any progress, Pandey laid out a plan for engaging Norway (new head of Geneva Committee),rebuffing Bhutanese refugee requests which would escalate violence, and establishing a deadline for holding concrete discussions with Bhutan on repatriation. End Summary. Bhutan Wants Indefinite Delay -------------- ¶2. (C) Pandey briefly reviewed recent interactions with Bhutanese officials on the margins of UNGA and SAARC. While Bhutan had in September provided a letter expressing its willingness to allow Categories 1 and 4 from the Kundabari camp to return to Bhutan, and King Wangchuk had said "we'll start immediately," this had not happened. The terms and conditions Bhutan had provided did not address key issues of legitimate concern to the refugees such as what would happen to their property in Bhutan and who would protect their rights once they were back in Bhutan. Bhutan's actions (or lack thereof) indicated that Thimpu was above all interested in delaying the process as long as possible, leaving the problem where it was, in Nepal. Pandey stressed his main concern was the fate of the remaining ethnic Nepalese in Bhutan (who represent perhaps a third of the total population there). Nepal Pushing Back on Escalating Violence,.. -------------- ¶3. (C) Pandey revealed that some Bhutanese refugee leaders had recently urged him to allow the refugees to cross the border into India "where they could create trouble," and then to close the border. The refugees believed such action would ensure the issue would become internationalized. Pandey assured the Ambassador he had rejected this idea, noting it would be sure to escalate violence and be "a step in the wrong direction." ... Prodding Norway to See Whole Picture -------------- ¶4. (C) Noting that Norway was chairing a committee in Geneva on Bhutanese refugees and that the Bhutanese FM was scheduled soon to go to Oslo to engage the Norwegian government, Pandey said he too would discuss the issue with Norway. He intended to meet soon with the Norwegian ambassador to Nepal to review his government's perspective. For instance, he would share with the Norwegian the Bhutanese letter offering to move ahead. And Setting a Deadline -------------- ¶5. (C) Pandey stressed that Bhutan has clearly demonstrated that it "does not want to solve the problem." Its long term goal is "to ethnically cleanse Bhutan." He agreed with the Ambassador that Nepal needed to set a deadline for action, perhaps 6 or 8 weeks from now. Pandey said he would consider writing a letter to his Bhutanese counterpart, noting such a deadline and issuing an invitation to come to Kathmandu before that date to set conditions and safeguards for the return of Categories 1 and 4. Such action would force Bhutan to act or reveal that it did not intend to do so -- firmly pushing the issue onto the international agenda. Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) Thimpu's actions over the past few months have done nothing to dispel Pandey's conviction that Bhutan wants to avoid taking any refugees back as long as possible (preferably forever). Setting a deadline for action by Bhutan (which may reveal that Nepal's fears are well-founded and bring the issue firmly into the international arena) seems like a good next step. MORIARTY