NEPAL: BORDER ISSUES WITH EQUIPMENT FOR UNAMID

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000128 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2017 TAGS: PREL MOPS PGOV UNSC SU IN NP SUBJECT: NEPAL: BORDER ISSUES WITH EQUIPMENT FOR UNAMID DEPLOYMENT REF: STATE 002736 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). Logistic Equipment Crosses Border; Weapons Remain in Nepal -------------- -------------- ¶1. (C) Most of the Contingent-Owned Equipment (COE) to support the Nepal Police's deployment to the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) cleared Indian customs on January ¶17. The COE had been delayed at the Indo-Nepal border in Birgunj as described in reftel talking points. An Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) contact reported that the delay may have been a pressure tactic by the Government of India (GOI) to force the Government of Nepal (GON) to announce an election date. (Note: On January 11, the GON announced the twice-postponed Constituent Assembly election would occur on April 10. End note.) The GOI's officially-stated reason for the delay had been its inability to provide security for the movement of the hazardous equipment -- i.e., arms and ammunition. The Nepal Police now plan to carry the weapons with the deploying Firm Police Unit. ODC's contact said the GOI would not have any additional problems with the movement of the logistic supplies in the COE, which should be shipped from Kolkata, India to Sudan pending scheduling by the shipping company. Nepal Police Await Deployment -------------- ¶2. (C) The Firm Police Unit must await notification that its logistic equipment has reached Darfur before it can confirm its deployment date. The Nepal Police will make an ultimate decision regarding the movement of the weapons when the Ministry of Home Affairs issues final instructions. According to Deputy Inspector General Ramesh Chand Thakuri, only some of the 50 names the UN accepted for the Darfur mission have been approved or assigned for deployment as of mid-January. BERRY