CORE GROUP ON BHUTANESE REFUGEES EAGER TO MOVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000338

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2017
TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV BT NP
SUBJECT: CORE GROUP ON BHUTANESE REFUGEES EAGER TO MOVE
AHEAD

REF: A. KATHMANDU 317

B. KATHMANDU 222

Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty for reasons 1.4(b/d).

Summary
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1. (C) In a February 9 meeting with Ambassadors representing
the Core Group on Bhutanese refugees, Ambassador Moriarty
informed his colleagues that Prime Minister had approved
large-scale resettlement (ref A). The Ambassador's briefing
was well-received and helped the Core Group to define its
next steps, including a joint demarche to the Foreign and
Home Ministries. In other business, UNHCR Country Director
Abraham noted delays in the Government of Nepal's processing
of vulnerable cases for resettlement. All the Ambassadors
expressed concern over the impact that the apparent increase
in Maoist and Communist Party of Bhutan activity in the camps
might have on a resettlement program. Australian Ambassador
Lade, who chairs the Kathmandu Core Group, raised the problem
of the refugees' food supply, which Abraham said had been
secured through mid-May thanks to U.S., Canadian and European
contributions.

Australia Will Chair Kathmandu-Based Core Group
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2. (SBU) On February 9, Ambassadors representing the Core
Group on Bhutanese refugees met to discuss recent
developments and possible next steps. Hosted by Australian
Ambassador Graeme Lade, Ambassador Moriarty, Danish
Ambassador Finn Thilsted, Canadian Cooperation Officer Ed
Doe, and UNHCR Country Director Abraham attended the meeting.
Lade provided a brief overview of the January 17 Core Group
(CG) meeting in Geneva. While Canada had assumed
chairmanship of the Core Group in Geneva, he noted that, at
Canada's request, Australia had consented to chair the CG in
Kathmandu.

GON Processing of Vulnerable Cases Too Cumbersome
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3. (C) UNHCR Abraham provided an update on the Government of
Nepal's (GON) processing of vulnerable cases for
third-country resettlement. Of the first batch of 16
vulnerable refugees, to date, 12 had departed Nepal, 3 had
withdrawn their applications and 1 was under process with the
Home Ministry. Abraham stated that, on January 4, UNHCR had
submitted to the Home Ministry a second batch of 36 cases
that third countries had approved for resettlement. Using a
flow chart, Abraham detailed the GON's processing
requirements, including a vulnerability assessment, approval
for resettlement and issuance of travel documents and exit
permits. He opined that these current procedures would be
far too cumbersome for a large-scale resettlement program.
Abraham wanted to meet with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs
and Home together to discuss ways this process might be
streamlined.

Concern Over Maoist and Other Communist Activity in the Camps
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4. (C) Lade expressed concern that the Communist Party of
Bhutan and Nepal's Maoists were attracting refugee youth to
their movement. He noted in particular the recent report
that Maoist posters instructing teachers to close a
schoolwere found covering the walls of the Beldangi 2 camp.
Maoists had clearly stated their intention to prevent the
resettlement of refugees to third countries, Lade added.
Ambassador Moriarty agreed that there seemed to be increased
Communist activity in the camps, which posed additional risks
for refugees who supported third-country resettlement.

More Contributions Needed for Refugee Food Program
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5. (C) Lade worried that a break in the World Food Program
pipeline for the refugees would play into Maoist hands and
encourage further dissatisfaction in the camps. Abraham
noted that ongoing unrest and the continuous series of
bandhs, or closures, in the Terai had compounded the food
supply problem. Abraham detailed recent donor contributions
to the Bhutanese refugee food program, including the U.S.
contribution of USD 1.8 million, the Canadian grant of nearly
USD 500,000 and the USD 400,000 from the Swiss. He believed
that the European Commission contribution of Euros 1.5
million (roughly USD 2 million) had been used to pay back
WFP's internal loan from January that had prevented an
earlier break in the food pipeline (ref B). With these
contributions, Abraham averred, the food supply was secured
through mid-May 2007. Ambassador Moriarty agreed that a
break in the pipeline would be counterproductive to Core
Group interests and encouraged donors to make additional
contributions.

Encouraged by PM Koirala's Agreement on Resettlement
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6. (C) Ambassador Moriarty then briefed the group on his
February 7 meeting with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala
(ref A). Noting that he had previously raised this issue
with all three relevant Ministers (Prime, Foreign and Home),
the Ambassador indicated his belief that the Prime Minister's
agreement was the result of internal GON consultations.
Encouraged by the PM's agreement, the Core Group agreed that
it needed to move quickly to take advantage of this
opportunity. The Ambassador detailed the U.S. plan to issue
a Request for Proposals soon.

Next Steps: Core Group Demarche to GON
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7. (C) The Ambassador stated his intention to meet the week
of February 12 with both the Foreign Minister, who was
expected to return February 12 from medical treatment in
Thailand, and Home Minister to obtain their buy-in for the
resettlement program. Both the Australian and Danish
Ambassadors were interested in a joint Core Group meeting
with both the Foreign and Home Ministers. The Ambassador
agreed to request such a meeting during his bilateral
meetings next week, adding that concrete resettlement offers
by other Core Group members would strengthen a joint
demarche. The group agreed that implementation of a
resettlement program, including streamlining GON processing
requirements and broad dissemination of information on
resettlement, would be key to success.

Comment: The Way Forward
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8. (C) Both the Danish and Australian Ambassadors seemed
pleased with U.S. advocacy for, and the Prime Minister's
agreement to, a resettlement program for the Bhutanese
refugees. We agree that a joint Core Group demarche to the
Government of Nepal, particularly if it includes other
concrete resettlement offers, would help to keep momentum
going in Kathmandu. We also recommend that the Department
consider the idea of a demarche by Embassy New Delhi to the
Government of India (GOI) and Royal Government of Bhutan
(RGOB) detailing the U.S. interest in accelerating a
comprehensive solution and seeking their assistance. We
believe that a clear statement that the international
community would not tolerate further expulsions from Bhutan
should be a central element of this demarche.
MORIARTY