AMBASSADOR TELLS FOREIGN MINISTER: REFUGEE CAMPS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001320 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2017 TAGS: PREL PREF PTER CVIS KDEM BT NP SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR TELLS FOREIGN MINISTER: REFUGEE CAMPS NEED SECURITY Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) On July 6, the Ambassador highlighted to Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan U.S. concerns regarding the intimidation and terror tactics the Bhutanese Communist Party and traditional Bhutanese refugee leaders were using in the refugee camps to discourage resettlement. Pradhan agreed that there were serious problems in the camps and that the refugees should have a right to choose resettlement. She was silent, however, in response to the Ambassador's suggestion that it was the Government of Nepal's duty to establish security in the camps. The Foreign Minister acknowledged the importance of holding the Constituent Assembly election in November, but expressed concern about security in the Terai and the activities of the Young Communist League. Joint Secretary for the Americas Hira Bahadur Thapa told the SIPDIS Ambassador that Diversity Visa applicants had inundated the Foreign Ministry with inquiries about the review of their files. Thapa suggested that it would be better for the Foreign Ministry to announce that the review process could take up to a year, rather than for the Ambassador to announce now that none of the applicants were eligible, and the Ambassador agreed. Duty to Establish Security in Refugee Camps -------------- ¶2. (C) In a July 6 farewell call with Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan and Joint Secretary Hira Bahadur Thapa, the Ambassador expressed concern that Bhutanese Communist Party (BCP) leaders, who had close ties to the Nepali Maoists, were attempting to turn the refugee camps into bases for Maoist revolution. The Ambassador emphasized that the U.S. and other international donors would cut off their support if the camps turned into terrorist training centers. The Ambassador noted that there was an unlikely alliance between the BCP leaders and the traditional Bhutanese leaders, who saw repatriation as the only solution to the refugee problem. The Ambassador suggested that a few armed persons were causing the terror in the camps and that it was the duty of the Government of Nepal (GON) to establish security. Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan agreed that there were problems in the camps, that the refugees should have the right to choose resettlement, and admitted that some of the leaders were "poisoning the minds of the people" against resettlement. The Ambassador strongly suggested to Pradhan that, if the GON could not ensure security, it should seek assistance from the Core Group about setting up some sort of private security mechanism. The Ambassador added that the U.S. was determined to move forward with resettlement; if the security situation made it impossible to start the registration process inside the camps, the refugees would have to go to registration centers outside the camps. Importance of Constituent Assembly Election -------------- ¶3. (C) Pradhan and the Ambassador agreed it was crucial that the Constituent Assembly election be held in November. The Foreign Minister expressed concern about the security situation generally, disturbances in the Terai, and the activities of the Young Communist League (YCL). She emphasized that all the parties needed to abide by their peace agreements and that the Nepali people had suffered for and deserved peace. The Ambassador agreed and stated that he hoped the Maoists would recognize the futility of attempting to seize power, given the situation in the Terai and the strength of the Nepal Army. He stressed that eight-party unity required that there first be seven-party unity. The Ambassador also told the Foreign Minister that, based on recent reports from western Nepal, the Maoist presence had diminished in the countryside and now might be a good time for the other political parties to step up their activities in more remote districts. KATHMANDU 00001320 002 OF 002 Diversity Visa Applicants Still Waiting -------------- ¶4. (C) Joint Secretary Thapa told the Ambassador that Diversity Visa applicants, who had been waiting since April for their files to be reviewed, continued to make inquires at the Foreign Ministry. The Ambassador responded that the U.S. review was complete and that none of the applicants were eligible. He stated that he would be willing to make an announcement to that effect before he departed Nepal. Thapa suggested that it would be better for the Foreign Ministry to tell the applicants that the review process was lengthy and could take up to a year. Thapa reasoned that the delay may lead some of the protesters to move on to other issues. The Ambassador agreed to this proposal. Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) Foreign Minister Pradhan readily acknowledged the ongoing acts of intimidation inside the Bhutanese refugee camps against those refugees who were in favor of third-country resettlement. That said, she gave no indication that the GON would move to establish security inside the camps. It is ultimately the responsibility of the Ministry of Home Affairs to secure the camps, a responsibility it has yet to fulfill. The Chief District Officer from Jhapa District, where all the camps are located, is expected to meet the week of July 9 with Home Ministry officials in Kathmandu to develop a security plan. The Home Ministry's record overall in providing security is poor, but we will push hard for an exception in this case. Until a secure and safe environment for the refugees can be established, the ability of the U.S. and other countries to begin a resettlement program will be in question. MORIARTY