NEPALESE CONTRACTORS KIA IN IRAQ -- ALLEGATIONS OF

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000862 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, NEA/I SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER MOPS SOCI NP IZ SUBJECT: NEPALESE CONTRACTORS KIA IN IRAQ -- ALLEGATIONS OF NON-PAYMENT OF DEATH BENEFITS BY CONTRACTOR COMPANIES ¶1. This is an Action Request. Please see final para. ¶2. Emboff met Riyadh-based Nepalese Charge d'Affaires Prakash Suvedi at his request on May 28, 2007 to discuss allegations of non-payment of death benefits by companies operating in Iraq for the USG. He requested any assistance the USG could offer. ¶3. Mr. Suvedi presented the Embassy with a diplomatic note No. DM/255 which reads as follows: The Embassy of Nepal in Riyadh, which is concurrently accredited to the State of Kuwait, presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America in Kuwait and has the honour to state that the family members of the following Nepalese nationals who were killed while serving presumably under US contracts in Iraq have been approaching this Embassy with their request to provide them with compensation and insurance. S.N./Name of the Deceased/Date of Death/Company's Name -------------- -------------- ¶1. Umesh Thapa May 2, 2007 Taylors ¶2. Choodamani Sharma Aug 27, 2006 RGS Logistics ¶3. Chinta Bahadur Pun June 11, 2006 RGS Logistics ¶4. Chandra Mani Rai Apr 6, 2006 BTB Contractor ¶5. Bil Prasad alias June 5, 2005 American-Iraq Bin Kumar Gurung Solutions Group ¶6. Ishwar Bahadur alias Ishwar Man Rai Feb 11, 2004 KBR ¶7. Indra Bahadur Magar June 24, 2004 Global Security ¶8. Raman Singh Thapa Aug 14, 2004 Global Security ¶9. Govinda Raj Limbu Nov 25, 2004 Global Security ¶10. Tilak Ram Bhat Chhetri Nov 25, 2004 Global Security ¶11. Bhim Bahadur Gurung Nov 25, 2004 Global Security ¶12. Gagan Chand Thakuri Nov 25, 2004 Global Security ¶13. Ram Bahadur Gharti Dec 11, 2004 Olive Security ¶14. Kishor Rai Dec 16, 2004 Global Security ¶15. Padam Bahadur Rai April 13, 2005 DOD Contractor ¶16. Yam Bahadur Thapa April 25, 2006 National Logistics However, the Embassy has been facing difficulties to contact and deal with these companies operating inside Iraq. In view of this problem as well as considering the trauma the bereaved families are undergoing with the death of their breadwinners, the Embassy would like to request the esteemed Embassy of the United States in Kuwait to kindly instruct the concerned companies to pay immediately through this Embassy legitimate dues, compensation and insurance that the legal heirs of the deceased may be entitled to under the prevailing laws and regulations. If the family of some of those Nepalese nationals are already paid by the concerned company directly, the Embassy would like to get documents confirming such payments. In the meantime, all contractors of the Government of the United States should be informed to use the official channel while paying any dues, compensation and insurance money to the family in case of any death of a Nepali national under their sponsorship. [Complimentary close.] ¶4. Accompanying the dipnote was a dossier with copies of DD Form 1075 (Convoy List of Remains of Deceased Personnel),DD Form 2064 (Certificate of Death (Overseas)),DD Form 890 (Record of Identification Processing),CAC and CPA ID cards, passport biodata pages, various correspondence, insurance policies, a DNA test report, etc. of the deceased listed above. A review of the files reveals that nearly all of the deceased persons were killed by insurgent attacks (IEDs, gunfire, rocket fire, etc.) ¶5. Kishor Rai (number 14 in dipnote) should read Kishwar RAI per his DoD Contractor ID card issued 2004JUN07. ¶6. Not listed in the dipnote, but included as a file was a power of attorney for the legal heirs of Agam Bahadur ADHIKARI, deceased 26 June 2005, a truck driver, possibly with Rehal International. ¶7. Mr. Suvedi asked the USG to apply "moral pressure" on contractors to pay these claims. Emboff offered his sympathy and said he would forward the diplomatic note to Washington. ¶8. ACTION REQUEST: Please advise post on appropriate response to the Embassy of Nepal's diplomatic note. POC is John Higi, Management Officer, Iraq Support Unit Kuwait. ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * LeBaron