US embassy cable - 04KATHMANDU1201

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 001201 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, ELAB, EAID, SMIG, ASEC, PREF, KCRM, KWMN, KFRD, CASC, NP, SA/PPD, Trafficking in Persons 
SUBJECT: STATE DEPT. 2004 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT 
 
-- Both Nepal's English and Nepali dailies gave prominence 
to the State Department's "2004 Trafficking in Persons 
Report."  The news-stories quoting the report were 
published in the front page of the major dailies on June 
16.  On June 17, five dailies (three English and two 
vernacular) wrote editorials reiterating the report's 
articulation of the stale situation in regards to 
trafficking of persons in Nepal.   Economic woes coupled 
with the Maoist insurgency and political unrest were cited 
as the reasons behind the sad situation of trafficking in 
the country. 
 
The following are excerpts from the editorials published on 
June 17, 2004. 
 
-- Inhuman trafficking: "...The report has categorically 
mentioned that although Nepal has been making efforts to 
comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of 
crime, instability and insurgency have prevented the 
government endeavors... Maoist insurgents have not only 
successfully created political havoc in the countryside, 
but they have also contributed to assisting trafficking of 
concerned authorities, civil society, and the people should 
understand the gravity of the situation and find a way out 
unanimously." (Centrist "The Kathmandu Post," E/D) 
 
-- Tackling trafficking: "...Nothing substantial seems to 
have been done in this regard [to combat trafficking of 
peoples]... The report states that the Nepalese government 
could do more by complying with the minimum standards for 
the elimination of trafficking and more significant efforts 
in this direction are necessary... The situation should be 
tackled through the law enforcement efforts against 
trafficking which has been limited because of the 
continuing political instability and also because of the 
severe lack of resources of the impoverished country as 
because of the Maoist insurgency activities police have 
been withdrawn from most rural areas." (Government-owned 
"The Rising Nepal," E/D) 
 
-- No improvement: "...Trafficking in persons is one problem 
that Nepal has never been able to contain, leave alone 
eliminate... The practice has also tarnished the country's 
image". The government has done a good deal towards 
eliminating trafficking in persons, but a lot still needs 
to be done.  The extent of human trafficking today is 
certainly lower than it was before the restoration of 
democracy in 1990... The process of reformation, meanwhile, 
must continue to encourage the male members, who hold sway 
over the future of their female progenies and siblings, to 
desists from illicit sexual indulgence.  Their 
participation in the success of this campaign is crucial." 
(Pro-India "The Himalayan Times," E/D) 
 
-- Pain of trafficking: "Another negative point has been 
added to Nepal's identity in the international community. 
The report published by U.S. Department of State has once 
again shamed and shaken the Nepali state and the civic 
society.  The latest report is evidence to the fact that 
our efforts to stop trafficking have not been fruitful.  It 
also means that we have to start our programs to stop 
trafficking from scratch... Our rulers have not been 
sensitive enough on the issue.  The government did try to 
break the traffickers' nexus with a national program but 
that addressed only one aspect of the problem.  We need 
programs that deal with root causes and other aspects of 
trafficking.  Realization of the problem and the pain can 
only lead to effective programs and their implementation." 
(Centrist "Rajdhani," V/D) 
 
 
-- Brutal crime: "... While the international community 
expresses its concern over the increasing sale of six-seven 
year olds and illiterate women, the government is not 
that the government is not doing much on this and the 
political parties, so-called shadow government; also do not 
raise the issue... There is a need to launch massive 
awareness programs, penalize the criminals and break their 
links.  The administration should also become very active 
to control such criminal activities." (Centrist 
"Spacetime," V/D) 
 
BOGUE