Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KATHMANDU896
2007-05-04 12:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

UNHCR PREPARES TO RESETTLE BHUTANESE REFUGEES

Tags:  PREF PREL PGOV BT NP 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5590
OO RUEHCI RUEHCN
DE RUEHKT #0896/01 1241212
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 041212Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5817
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 5690
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 5995
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 1217
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 4018
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 5310
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1393
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU PRIORITY 0372
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 3436
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1628
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 2651
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000896 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2017
TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV BT NP
SUBJECT: UNHCR PREPARES TO RESETTLE BHUTANESE REFUGEES

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Robert Hugins. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000896

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2017
TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV BT NP
SUBJECT: UNHCR PREPARES TO RESETTLE BHUTANESE REFUGEES

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Robert Hugins. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) On May 3, UNHCR International Protection Division
Deputy Director and Head of the Resettlement Service Vincent
Cochetel and UNHCR's Country Representative Abraham Abraham
informed Charge d'Affaires that the United States needed to
clarify its preferred methodology to identify and process the
Bhutanese refugees who would seek U.S. resettlement. UNHCR's
ability to deliver the number of requested cases in a timely
manner would depend on U.S. data requirements. UNHCR also
required this information before it could prepare budget
estimates. Cochetel reported that UNHCR had completed its
census in the camps and was in the process of compiling the
data. Cochetel reported that he had observed an atmosphere
of fear in some of the Bhutanese refugee camps due to
political party activity which openly discouraged
resettlement. UNHCR planned to address misinformation and
negative perceptions by providing as much accurate
information as possible. Cochetel stressed that the refugees
needed more detailed information on the consequence of
resettlement and that the Government of Nepal's (GON) support
of the process would be critical to its success.

Meeting of Core Group on Bhutanese Refugees
--------------


2. (C) In a May 3, meeting UNHCR Deputy Director Division of
International Protection and Head of Resettlement Service
Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR's Representative in Nepal Abraham
Abraham, and UNHCR Durable Solutions Officer Kimberly
Robertson informed the Charge d'Affaires that the U.S. needed
to clarify its preferred methodology to identify and process
the Bhutanese refugees who wish to seek resettlement to the
U.S. UNHCR's ability to deliver the number of requested
cases in a timely manner will depend on the data requirements
and the level of detail demanded by the U.S. The UNHCR
representatives added that they will need the U.S.
requirements for the resettlement process to generate budget
estimates for the donor community. The Corp Group also
stressed the need for the U.S. to continue its efforts to

encourage the Government of Nepal to simplify resettlement
procedures and support the process. Abraham stated that
Nepal's current procedures used to process "vulnerable"
refugees would be far too cumbersome for the planned
large-scale resettlement program. These same points were
reiterated in a separate May 3 meeting with the Ambassadors
representing the Core Group on Bhutanese refugees, hosted by
Australian Ambassador Graeme Lade.

UNHCR Evaluates Findings from Census
--------------


3. (C) UNHCR's Deputy Director Cochetel, who was visiting
from Geneva, reported that the objective of his trip was to
review and assess the data collected during UNHCR's recent
census of the Bhutanese refugee camps population. Cochetel
reported that the census had been peaceful and that the
refugees understood its significance and had fully
cooperated. The data collected was being used to help
formulate resettlement programming. As another dividend of
the census, UNHCR would urge the Government of Nepal to
discharge its obligations to the refugees to issues
administrative documents such as birth certificates, marriage
certificates, etc.

UNHCR to Seek Agreement on Refugee Children
--------------


4. (C) Cochetel noted that the information collected on
children living in the refugees camps, separate from their
parents who remained in Bhutan, would be used to build
compelling humanitarian cases for the children's return to
Bhutan. UNHCR believed there could be as many as 400 of
these children. Cotchetel explained that, since the legal

KATHMANDU 00000896 002 OF 002


status in Bhutan of the children's parents was unknown, UNHCR
would seek assurances from the Bhutanese government that
there would be no retaliation against the parents should
UNHCR attempt to locate them.

Resettlement Portrayed as Selling Out
--------------


5. (C) Cochetel reported an atmosphere of fear in some of the
Bhutanese refugee camps he had visited. He had observed
political party activity apparently by supporters of the
Bhutanese Communist Party (BCP) which openly discouraged
resettlement through intimidation and threatened violence.
The BCP was spreading the word, especially among youth in
camps, that resettlement would defeat their efforts to return
to Bhutan, destroying any chance for justice. The UNHCR
representatives acknowledged that this negative perception
needed to be dealt with directly. Cochetel stated that UNHCR
would make every effort to portray resettlement as a positive
move that would not weaken the refugees' case for
repatriation.

Refugee Apprehensive about Resettlement
--------------


6. (C) The UNHCR representatives stressed the refugees' need
for accurate and adequate information on the details of
resettlement and life in the United States. The refugees had
many questions related to cultural values and at present
there was no Bhutanese community in the United States which
could respond to their concerns. Cochetel stressed that a
special effort should be made to ensure that the process was
smooth for the first wave of refugees. These refugees would
become the ambassadors for the rest of the refugees seeking
resettlement. The Charge d'Affaires said that the Embassy's
Public Affairs Section had proposed a TV co-op with
government-owned Nepal TV to produce a program or series on
refugee resettlement in the U.S. (Note: Post awaits word on
this proposal from PA/OBS/BSP.) UNHCR representative Abraham
responded that he believed there was a private donor who was
interested in establishing an information center in one of
the camps as a pilot project. All agreed that it would be
important to effectively counter misinformation with the
appropriate assurances and clear detailed information that
addressed the refugees' concerns and questions.

Government Support of Process Critical
--------------


7. (C) Cochetel stressed that the support of the Government
of Nepal was critical to the success of the program. He
urged the U.S. to continue its dialogue with the Government
of Nepal (GON) to support the process and establish detailed
procedures concerning the GON's processing requirements for
approval of resettlement and issuance of travel documents and
exit permits.
HUGINS