GOI WILLING TO ENGAGE RGOB ON REFUGEES IN NEPAL,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000555 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2015 TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM IN BT NP SUBJECT: GOI WILLING TO ENGAGE RGOB ON REFUGEES IN NEPAL, RGOB REITERATES NEED FOR WRITTEN AGREEMENT REF: A. NEW DELHI 434 ¶B. STATE 6081 ¶C. KATHMANDU 216 Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) Summary: The GOI pressed Bhutanese Foreign Minister Wangchuk to find a solution to the refugee problem during his January 15 visit to New Delhi, Joint Secretary-North (Nepal-Bhutan) Pankaj Saran told us during a January 25 meeting. Acknowledging a direct GOI interest, he noted that India does not yet have a solution to the problem, but is willing to help move the repatriation/resettlment process forward. Bhutanese Ambassador Tshering told us on January 25 that the solution to the problem must be bilateral and should be solved through a continuation of the Dhaka discussions between Foreign Ministers Pandey and Wangchuk. Reiterating Bhutan's security concerns and that the RGOB was focused on the democratization process, Tshering asserted the government would not undertake any action that would disrupt the political transition in Thimphu. Our discussions with the Tshering, who holds a hard-line view of the situation and was SIPDIS Home Minister during the expulsions, underscores the need to carry on this discussion with the RGOB in Thimphu. In light of the progress made during U/S Dewey's discussions with King Wangchuck, further direct communications with the Foreign Minister or the King may be needed to achieve results. End Summary. GOI Engaged With RGOB on Refugees -------------- ¶2. (C) Joint Secretary Pankaj Saran reported that he discussed the current status of the refugee issue with Bhutanese Foreign Minister Wangchuk during a January 15-16 meeting. Saran told us that Wangchuk stated the RGOB had sent a letter to the GON with modalities of the agreement to repatriate Category 1 and 4 refugees and was awaiting a written response from the GON. Saran also noted that he attempted to sensitize the Foreign Minister to the possible radicalization of the refugees in the camps in Nepal, and recommended that Bhutan should move quickly to forestall such an event. Acknowledging the issue has a direct impact on India, Saran indicated that the GOI does not have a solution at this stage. He remarked that the GOI has left it up to Bhutan and Nepal to find a solution to the problem so far, but indicated that India wants to find a way to help drive a resolution. ¶3. (C) PolCouns suggested that the GOI could be the catalyst to get Bhutan and Nepal past the stage of finger-pointing and to the point where they can start repatriating cases. Saran reported that India is in the process of looking at where it "can fit in" and that the issue will be discussed in more detail with the RGOB in the coming month. Saran concluded that the GOI will "take more time before we have clarity on our approach, as there are sensitivities all around." Third Country Resettlement and Refugee Discussion at GIF -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) PolCouns informed Saran that the topic of the Bhutanese refugees would likely be raised during the February 1 Global Issues Forum, and noted that the US delegation will include a senior representative from PRM. When the possibility of large scale resettlement of Bhutanese refugees NEW DELHI 00000555 002 OF 002 to the US and other third countries arose, Director-North (Nepal-Bhutan) Achal Kumar Malhotra asked if such a plan had been proposed to the RGOB. PolCouns noted that the RGOB had been told on a number of occasions that the US and other resettlement countries would likely accept large numbers of refugees, once other options were exhausted. Tshering: Same Story, Same Dance SIPDIS -------------- ¶5. (C) Bhutanese Ambassador Tshering launched into a lengthy description of the process of constitutional change Bhutan has undertaken when PolCouns questioned him about feedback regarding A/S Rocca's letter to FM Wangchuk. After PolCouns explained USG desires to assist in ending the protracted refugee issue, Tshering commented that the issue remains bilateral, and the best way to move forward was through a continuation of the discussions started in Dhaka between the Nepalese and Bhutanese Foreign Ministers. Tshering explained that FM Pandey refused to permit a joint communique announcing the plan to repatriate Category 1 and 4 refugees from Khudunabari Camp, which the RGOB took as a signal of bad faith. Tshering asserted that without jointly informing the public and camp residents about the agreement, it becomes a unilateral action and that "Bhutan is not prepared to take any unilateral action at this time of constitutional change." ¶6. (C) Tshering remarked that Bhutan remains concerned about the growing number of activist groups in the camps, commenting that "Bhutan does not want these people to disrupt the country." PolCouns noted that the USG also does not want a destabilizing force entering Bhutan, and that was another reason to move forward quickly to resolve the refugee issue and dismantle the camps. Tshering then reiterated the need for the foreign ministers to discuss the issue. ¶7. (C) In response to Nepalese threats to internationalize the issue, Tshering responded that he had heard that empty threat before and that the GON does not know what this actually means. Highlighting Bangladesh and Cyprus, he asserted that internationalizing the situation would only make the problem worse and that the only solution was through bilateral dialogue, "and that involves talking to us." Comment: Talk to the King -------------- ¶8. (C) Ambassador Tshering holds a hard-line view on the refugee issue and was Home Minister when the expulsions took place. Attempts by the mission to engage him on the refugee issue have proven unfruitful. In light of Tshering's views and the positive feedback A/S Dewey received after his October 2004 visit to Thimphu and direct consultations with the King, we may wish to explore how the US could best re-engage on the refugee issue directly with the Foreign Minister or the King. MULFORD