Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KATHMANDU1077
2009-11-24 11:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

NEPAL: PRM PDAS PRESSES GON ON REFUGEE PROTECTION

Tags:  PREF PGOV PREL NP BU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6928
PP RUEHCI
DE RUEHKT #1077/01 3281145
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 241145Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1084
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 7209
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 7547
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 2885
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 5585
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 6692
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3347
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 4848
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2465
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 3738
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KATHMANDU 001077 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2019
TAGS: PREF PGOV PREL NP BU
SUBJECT: NEPAL: PRM PDAS PRESSES GON ON REFUGEE PROTECTION

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KATHMANDU 001077

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2019
TAGS: PREF PGOV PREL NP BU
SUBJECT: NEPAL: PRM PDAS PRESSES GON ON REFUGEE PROTECTION

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).


1. (C) Summary:During a November 11-12 visit to Kathmandu,
PRM Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) Samuel Witten
met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sujata
Koirala and Home Minister Bhim Rawal to discuss the
situations of Tibetans and Bhutanese refugees in Nepal. The
Government of Nepal (GON) was appreciative of USG efforts on
Bhutanese resettlement but conceded that its desire to
resolve the refugee situation via engagement with the
Government of Bhutan (GOB) was tempered by more pressing
internal issues. In response to Witten,s request that the
GON continue to enhance its protection of long-staying
Tibetans in Nepal, the GON made clear that continuing
pressure from the Chinese made this issue a very sensitive
one for the government, but also acknowledged the U.S.
message and clearly understood that this was an important
humanitarian issue from the U.S. perspective. Witten also
visited the UNHCR Tibetan Reception Center and met with
UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration (IOM),
and the Kathmandu-based representatives of the Bhutanese Core
Group and Tibet Contact Group (septel).

--------------
Koirala Promises to Engage Bhutan
--------------

2. (C) In his November 12 meeting with Deputy Prime Minister
and Foreign Minister Koirala, Witten updated ForMin Koirala
on the progress of the USG,s resettlement of Bhutanese
refugees to the United States and expressed his appreciation
for the GON's cooperation in these efforts. Witten noted
that his discussions with the GOB on the return of some
Bhutanese refugees to Bhutan have not been satisfactory, and
that the GOB blamed poor relations with Nepal for the lack of
progress on returns.


3. (C) Koirala thanked Witten for the U.S. support with the
"difficult problem" of the Bhutanese refugees. She
promised to engage the GOB and to "try her best" to resolve
the refugee issue. According to Koirala, she was scheduled
to meet the Bhutanese ForMin in October in New York on the
sidelines of UNGA (at the request of the Bhutanese),but
that the GOB ForMin cancelled the meeting because of illness.

(Note: It has been over two years since the GON and GOB have
held official talks. The Bhutanese Charg in New Delhi
(reftel) told us that it was the GON who stood them up at a
proposed meeting on the margins of the NAM summit in Egypt.
End Note.) She noted that the previous Nepali Congress-led
governments had been "very active" on the Bhutanese refugee
issue, but that the current government was consumed by
internal challenges. However, Koirala said that the current
PM of Nepal was concerned about this issue and keen to make
progress.


4. (C) Witten reminded the FonMin that a certain number of
Bhutanese refugees would choose neither resettlement nor
return and would likely prefer to remain in Nepal. For these
refugees, Witten suggested that the GON would need to
consider some type of local integration program. Koirala did
not respond to the Witten,s comment directly, but instead
referenced ongoing struggles within Nepal and stressed that
the refugees should have a right to return to their own
country. (Home Minister Rawal had a more helpful and
forthcoming response to this question see below.)

--------------
Koirla Open but Vague on Tibetan Registration
--------------

5. (C) Witten also thanked the GON for its support for the
transit of Tibetan refugees from China to India. The
ForMin said that the GON tries to assist the refugees, but
noted that this is a "very sensitive" issue for Nepal's
"northern neighbor" (China). Witten acknowledged the
pressure placed on the GON by China but noted that the U.S.,
and other countries, hoped that Nepal would continue to be a
good host for refugees. Because many Tibetan refugees
living in Nepal do not have any legal documentation, Witten

KATHMANDU 00001077 002 OF 003


strongly suggested that the GON consider a program to
register the refugees. He noted that such an initiative
would be welcomed by the United States and other countries
and would earn the praise of many in the U.S. Government,
including members of Congress following the Tibetan issue.
Charg added that clarifying the legal status of the refugees
would enhance the GON's efforts to establish law and order.
The ForMin suggested that she would "do her best" on
registration, but did not appear to appreciate fully the
issue. Her aide, Under Secretary Rudra Nepal, reiterated
that the Tibetan refugee issue was "very sensitive."

--------------
Home Minister Rawal Appreciates Cooperation
--------------

6. (C) On a day of large scale Maoist demonstrations at the
GON's main offices (Singha Durbar),Home Minister Rawal
began his November 12 meeting with Witten by explaining the
GON's view of the political situation and expressing his
growing frustration with the Maoists (septel). Turning to
the refugee situation, Rawal thanked the United States for
resettling Bhutanese refugees. Witten underscored that U.S.
support for the Bhutanese resettlement program
remained strong and that the United States looked forward to
working closely with the GON to continue to resettle large
numbers of Bhutanese refugees. Rawal was skeptical of
Bhutan's willingness to accept return of even a few refugees,
noting that Nepal had tried to convince Bhutanese officials
in the past on this issue. Rawal indicated that further
bilateral discussions between Bhutan and Nepal would be
required to move return discussions forward; however, he
noted that domestic turmoil prevented the GON from paying
full attention to the issue. Rawal also stressed that India
has a role to play in resolution of the Bhutanese issue since
the refugees crossed Indian territory during their initial
flight from Bhutan to Nepal.On the prospect of a residual
Bhutanese population remaining in Nepal after the
resettlement program ends, Rawal said it should not be
difficult for the GON to manage a small "settlement program."
Witten noted that Rawal,s attitude on possible resettlement
of the residual population was a very positive development.
(Comment: Given prior GON sensitivity on the issue of local
integration of a residual population, Rawal,s upbeat
observation was particularly encouraging. END COMMENT)

-------------- -
Understands Advantages of Registration, But...
-------------- -

7. (C) Witten expressed U.S. appreciation for Nepal's
cooperation on the transit of Tibetans through Nepal to
India. Witten also suggested that registering Tibetan
refugees living "permanently" in Nepal would be advantageous
both for the Tibetans and the Nepali government. Rawal
agreed that registration would be "useful," noting that
illegal migration created law and order programs for the
government. However, Rawal also expressed the view that for
refugees merely transiting Nepal to India, registration was
not as important. When Witten clarified that registration is
important for long-staying Tibetan refugees, not those merely
transiting Nepal, Rawal did not reply directly but only said
generally that Nepal "tries its best" to protect the Tibetan
population and respect their rights.

--------------
Tibet Demonstrations Create Problems
--------------

8. (C) Rawal added an observation that groups within the
refugee communities are sometimes violent, which creates
problems for Nepal given its "geopolitical situation" (read:
China) and own political instability. Rawal has asked the
Tibetan leaders to remain peaceful and not initiate
"political movements" from Nepali territory. Witten noted
that the Tibetan elders living in Nepal agreed that violent
demonstrations are unhelpful. He urged the GON to express
"appropriate restraint" when dealing withdemonstrators, and
requested that the GON continue and enhance its protection of
the larger Tibetan community. Charg added that U.S.
interest in the plight of the Tibetan refugees is not

KATHMANDU 00001077 003 OF 003


political, but is purely humanitarian; like Nepal, we respect
China's territorial integrity and believe Tibet is part of
China.


9. (U) PDAS Witten has cleared this message.
BERRY