U.S. AND NEPAL SIGN AGREEMENT ON LAW ENFORCEMENT

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000081 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR INL, SCA/INS, AND L; DOJ FOR CRIMINAL DIVISION E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL SNAR INL KCRS NP SUBJECT: U.S. AND NEPAL SIGN AGREEMENT ON LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE REF: STATE 4663 LOA Signed -------------- ¶1. (U) On January 23, the Deputy Chief of Mission and Finance Secretary Rameshore Khanal signed a Letter of Agreement (LOA),in English (reftel),covering long-term law enforcement assistance worth over USD 2.5 million to the Home Ministry, Nepal Police (NP),and Armed Police Force (APF). This International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau-funded program includes a pilot project addressing law enforcement needs in the eastern Terai. The Finance Ministry is in the process of completing another official translation of the LOA into Nepali. It expects to complete that version by February 9. Background -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The State Department Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) began program assistance for Nepal in late 2007 in support of the April 2008 Constituent Assembly election. In February 29, 2008, the Ambassador signed a Letter of Agreement (LOA) with the Chief Election Commissioner (with the consent of then Prime Minister G.P. Koirala),which included direct support for the Elections Commission, as well as support for the Nepal Police (NP) and Armed Police Force (APF) under the Home Ministry. Post's Senior Law Enforcement Advisor completed these program activities, including a Joint Elections Operations Center, police training academy improvements, communications equipment nationwide, training, and typical elections security support. After the initial LOA expired on October 1, 2008, post began negotiations to establish a new LOA for general law enforcement assistance. This was to include INCLE funding and the component of the country's Section 1207 funding for Nepal's Eastern development region. The idea was to establish a pilot project in the East which could be replicated in the other four development regions in the future. After ten months of at times contentious talks, INL and the Mission on the one hand and the Nepali cabinet on the other finally came to an agreement. Comment -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The new LOA covers current Section 1207 funding from 2008, and establishes the path for 2009, 2010, and 2011 INCLE funding for Nepal should that be authorized. The Home Ministry, NP, APF, Attorney General,s Office, Ministry of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, and the Elections Commission have been strong supporters of this LOA and the previous one. After some convincing, the Finance Ministry is also on board too. We can now get down to work in providing the much needed support for Nepal's deeply troubled security sector and law and order situation as set out in Embassy Kathmandu's 2009 Mission Strategic Plan. BERRY