Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NEWDELHI555
2006-01-25 14:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:  

GOI WILLING TO ENGAGE RGOB ON REFUGEES IN NEPAL,

Tags:  PREF PREL PHUM IN BT NP 
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RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 5894
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RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8699
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHMFISS/HQ USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000555 

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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)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000555

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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

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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

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--------------


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